Reservoir Views Walk - Mournes to Newcastle
A strenuous linear walk linking the south Mournes to Newcastle via Slieve Binnian, Slievemalagan and the Glen River. Impressive views of Silent Valley Reservoir can be enjoyed from Slieve Binnian and of Ben Crom Reservoir from Slievelamagan, both of which supply Belfast with piped water.
Technical sheet No. 31277939
Calculated time: 7h15 ? 
Distance : 14.80 km
Vertical gain : 1,059 m
Vertical drop : 1,207 m
Highest point : 715 m
Lowest point : 8 m 
Difficulty : Difficult
Back to starting point : No
Walking
Location : Newry and Mourne
Starting point : N 54.128608° / W 5.94305° 
Ending point : N 54.205371° / W 5.894999° 
Today's forecast :
Description
Start : The walk starts at Carricklittle car park at the end of Oldtown Road. (BT34 4RW)
(D) From Carricklittle car park, take the track Northwards for 1 Km and cross the Mourne Wall using the stile/gate provided.
(1) After a short distance leave the track and continue along the Mourne Wall for 2 Km ascending the eastern slope of Slieve Binnian (747m). This section starts off gently sloping before ascending steeply to the summit tor.
(2) Descend Slieve Binnian Northwards (right) using the line of the tors, passing the Back Castles. Continue along this well-eroded path for 2 Km passing the north tor and descending steeply Northwards to the col with Slievelamagan. Continue straight ahead to ascend Slievelamagan (704m).
(3) Continue Northwards on the well-worn path, to the col between Slievelamagan and Cove mountain.
(4) From here follow the path over Cove Mountain along the top of the crags. Continue along this path Northwards to Slieve Beg passing the Devil’s Coach Road. Care should be taken here, especially in windy conditions.
(5) From Slieve Beg, walk North-East.
(6) The path meets the Brandy Pad 0.5 Km after this point. Continue in an Easterly (right) direction along the Brandy Pad passing under the craggy outcrops of The Castles on the left.
(7) At the end of the Castles veer left (North-East) and ascend to the col between Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard.
(8) Cross the Mourne Wall using the stile provided.
(9) Follow the Glen River Path downhill for 4 Km.
(10) The well-trodden path parallels the Glen River first in the valley floor and then through Donard Wood to the Donard car park in Newcastle, where the route ends. (A)
Waypoints :
D : km 0 - alt. 156 m - Carricklittle car park
1 : km 1.34 - alt. 237 m - Mourne Wall
2 : km 3.5 - alt. 712 m - Slieve Binnian
3 : km 7.02 - alt. 688 m - Slievelamagan
4 : km 8.78 - alt. 624 m - Cove mountain
5 : km 9.62 - alt. 572 m - Slieve Beg
6 : km 10.02 - alt. 549 m - Brandy Pad
7 : km 10.56 - alt. 542 m - End of the Castles
8 : km 10.88 - alt. 578 m - Mourne Wall - Stile
9 : km 11.49 - alt. 428 m - Glen River Path
10 : km 13.34 - alt. 215 m - Donard Wood
A : km 14.8 - alt. 8 m - Donard car park - Newcastle
Useful Information
Start : The walk starts at Carricklittle car park at the end of Oldtown Road. (BT34 4RW)
Driving to start : The walk starts at Carricklittle car park. To get here follow the Moneydarragh Road out of Annalong for 1.3 Km, continue straight on at the crossroads on the Oldtown Road for 2.4 Km, Carricklittle car park is at the end of the Oldtown Road.
Parking : Carrick Little (Slieve Binnian) Car Park, 74 Oldtown Rd, Annalong, Newry (BT34 4RW)
Terrain : Uneven mountain paths
Public Transport : Translink
Facilities : Toilet facilities available in Donard Park.
Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept on leads
Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
During the walk or to do/see around
The Mourne Wall was constructed to enclose a catchment area of the Silent Valley Reservoir in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. The 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high stone wall, which was built to keep livestock from contaminating water supplies, took almost twenty years to complete (1904 to 1922). The project was overseen by the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.