On Top of Northern Ireland

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I was so taken with my time in the Mourne Mountains last Sunday that I decided today I would return to what is thus far my favorite place in Northern Ireland. On this excursion I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by one of my good friends, Frank. We left Belfast this morning on the first bus to Newcastle and arrived about 11:00 this morning. After picking up a couple more food items we made our way to the mountains.

We agreed that today, rain or shine, we were going to climb Slieve Donard the highest mountain in Northern Ireland. It stands at 2,786 feet which sounds relatively modest for anyone who has had the pleasure of climbing any of the romanticized and daunting peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Though the Mournes are not quite the Rockies, keep in mind that we climbed every bit of that 2,786 feet as we started at sea level on the coast of the Irish Sea. In an effort to get lost in the serene environment that is characteristic of the landscape we opted to climb the mountain on its northeastern slope (it is traditionally climbed from the west). Our decision proved to be a great one as we only saw one other climber during our ascent. However, it was quite slow going as there is no trail on the northeastern slope. Thus, we found our own way. You can imagine this only inflated our sense of pride.

After taking a brief detour to summit Thomas's Mountain we reached the top of Slieve Donard. On a clear day one is able to see both the Isle of Man and Scotland from atop this high point in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, on this day the clouds ruled the sky. Nevertheless, it was an absolutely beautiful sight as we looked down upon the Irish Sea, the surrounding lands, and the clouds blanketing the valleys below.

Yet, our trek was not yet over. Frank and I decided to descend on the western ridge of the mountain and conquer one more of the Mournes. After spending a few more minutes admiring the awesome landscapes before our eyes we were on our way. Following the Mourne Wall we made our way down the ridge into the upper portion of a valley. The Mourne Wall is a stone structure eight feet tall and three feet wide that was built in the early 20th century, to mark a water catchment area, and connects fifteen of the peaks. From there we made our final climb to the top of Slieve Commedagh (Look-Out Mountain) which is the second tallest of the Mournes. Once again, the view from the top was outstanding.

After a brief respite both Frank and I decided that three summits was enough and slowly made our way down into the valley and back toward town. It was a wonderful day, though there is little doubt we will return as there is still much to explore. I leave you with a few photos. Yet, these pictures do not do necessary justice. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy them.

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Photos

Atop Northern Ireland
Frank and I on the summit of Slieve Donard.

The Mourne Wall
This stretch of the Mourne Wall runs from the summit of Slieve Donard to that of Slieve Commedagh.

The Distant Mournes
The Mourne Mountains to the south of our day's excursion. So much left for us to discover!

Descent from Commedagh
Descending following our final summit of the day.

A Moment of Reflection
Taking in the humbling surroundings.