Ballyroney Lake and Bog Walk

A superb walk encompassing a variety of landscapes. Here the Upper River Bann wends it way around farmed drumlin hills set in a lowland basin of extensive birch and moss on its journey from the Mourne Mountains to Lough Neagh. Ballyroney Lake supports a variety of wintering waterfowl including mute swan, whooper swan, mallard, teal, tufted duck and coot. It is one of the most important sites in Ireland for dragonflies.

The Windy Gap is a well know view point, off the Slievenaboley Road, in the Dromara Hills. The Windy Gap Pad is a rough farm track of just under a mile in length which joins the Slievenaboley and Legananny Roads.
The Dromara Hills, part of the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are a compact area of hill, moorland and farms in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains.

This is a strenuous and challenging walk with some steep ascents, but it is certainly worth it. The walk takes in three of the four highest peaks in the Mourne Mountains (Slieve Donard 853m, Slieve Commedagh 765m, Slieve Bearnagh 739m) and also the Brandy Pad – the well-trodden and infamous smugglers track. The walk gives wonderful views to the Irish Sea and to the heart of the High Mournes.

A moderate linear walk linking Trassey Track and Bloody Bridge via the Brandy Pad, taking in sights such as the Mourne Wall, the Castles, Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard. A more challenging alternative route is an option, by summiting Slievenaglogh and Slieve Commedagh, then following the Brandy Pad to Bloody Bridge.

The Hare’s Gap is the most dramatic mountain pass in the Mournes. Its sharply defined outline indicates that ice once passed this way; using the Gap’s convenient north-south alignment to advance and retreat over the entire Mournes range. In more recent times the Hare’s Gap marked the exit point for smuggled goods which had crossed the hills from the coast along the Brandy Pad. The contraband (which included soap, leather, spices and coffee) was carried through the mountains on the backs of small ponies which descended by the Hare’s Gap to the valley of the Trassey River and on to Hilltown (a favourite distribution centre). Nowadays, the Gap’s easily reached central location on the rim of the High Mournes makes it a popular starting point for routes scaling adjoining peaks, or simply for a walk along the gentle contours of the Brandy Pad.

This 2nd section of the Mourne Way Trek, is the Trassey Track, one of the busiest walkers’ routes into the Mournes. However, this is a challenging yet rewarding walk, some of which crosses open hill side with no waymarking so please ensure you are adequatley prepared. Almost all of the distance is off-road, with forest trails and mountain paths predominating. Highlights include a climb to 500m at the summit of Butter Mountain.

This 3rd section of the Mourne Way Trek is a challenging yet rewarding walk, some of which crosses open hill side with no waymarking so please ensure you are adequatley prepared.

The walk circumnavigates Castlewellan Lake. A short steep climb uphill brings you to the view point over the lake : Moorish Tower.