Near Newcastle, Slieve Meelmore is a steep-sided whaleback crossed by the Mourne Wall with some substantial crags overlooking the hollow of Pollaphuca on its E flank. It's a great perch from which to drool over the nearby peaks and crags of adjacent Bernagh as well as Donard, Binnion and the rolling hills of mid County Down.

N. Start from the road near the substantial car park at J31128 31420 A, following the Trassey track as far as the right turn at J31854 29187 B. Head for Pollaphuca and the dramatic col between Slieve Bearnagh and Slieve Meelmore. From here the summit is gained by a straightforward and steep ascent alongside the Mourne Wall. 1.5 – 2 hrs
Alternatively, head up to Hare's Gap and tackle S. Bernagh before coming to the col mentioned above. Be warned though of the very steep descent from Bernagh.

NW. One can also start from the picnic site further up the road J29280 29707 C. From here a path can be followed up the stream valley falling from the Meelmore/Meelbeg col. The stream guides the way once the path fades although the ground is rough and boggy, and the summit is easily gained following the wall from the col. 1.5 hrs

SW. Meelmore is at the end of a fine SW-NW ridge starting at Slieve Muck. Join the ridge wherever takes your fancy and follow the Mourne Wall as it snakes steeply over Slieve Meelbeg before arriving at the aforementioned col.

Notable tracks include track/2021 and track/3936 and if you can do a car split track/2335. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/4898/

Meelmore is an odd critter. To all intents and purposes, she is fairly dull, although she can surprise you with postcard views along the ridge to Donard and in the winter, her Eastern flank is a glistening must. She is a big hill and so, inspired, the cartographer entitled her, “Meelmore”. She is neighbour to the more ostentatious Bearnagh and sibling of her smaller sister - yup you got it: “Meelbeg”.

Shall I relate a tale of explicitness from the outset? Of course I shall. Some balmy summers ago, I and the bumblebees were exploring this big warm earth mother. Atop Meelmore, there is (as on Donard) a somethingorother at the elbow of the wall, a stone structure with a roof and the smell of a bad pub. I was skirting this folly, enroute to Spellack, when I noticed that she, naked as God made her (and he certainly did) had him (pale, thin and nervous), pinned to said edifIce. As her, he was birthday bare other than his ankles, whose modesty was covered by his kecks. When he saw me, he drew said kecks up so hard they nearly came off over his head and then stood catatonic, with them up to his armpits, which as we all know only makes matters worse. She, was doing a kind of female Lee Evans: right no left no right no …. and so she stopped, like a child sprayed with freezing water: arms out and fingers flapping like skylark wings. Dull old Meelmore ……. and she addressed me through a meteor shower of giggles, squeals and snorts, “you should have bells on your feet”. Clucked I in true Ulster disapproval “and you girl, should have bells on your toes.” And so the shaky beginnings of the Meelmore High Club. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/1327/

Bypassed Newcastle for this one headed toward tullymore forest park then the mourne high scenic route which is on the left further on up the road there's a car park near fofanny dam its on the mourne activity map my new found bible I think the route goes through some private land but its easily enough navigated just walk your way up to the mourne wall you can see it from the car park near enough and follow left once u get near the top there's some great views of Ben Crom reservoir there is also some tough gradients to the summit very rocky but totally worth the view into the mournes from the east got caught out in a hail and thunder on the way down was my first experience of a mountain storm. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/17541/

From some angles, it really is a strange beast.. kind of like a beached whale or the back of an elephant. Whatever it is, it had loads of people scurrying up, down and around it! For summit baggers, there are huge gains to be made with Carn, Loughshannagh, Meelbeg, Meelmore and Bearnagh so close to each other and the walking (with the exception of that climb up Bearnagh) pretty easy going.

As for that climb up Bearnagh! From Meelmore it looks impossibly steep, ridiculous even! Even glancing across at it was causing my legs to cramp so I decided to cross the wall and take a dander up to the summit proper of Meelmore to take my mind off the task ahead. That summit lies a hundred metres or so away from the watch-tower (what exactly was 'watched' from these towers?) and is marked with a cairn. My 'quiet time' at the top was interrupted by that rarest of creatures, a fell runner, and before I had time to raise my hand to salute him, he was off round the corner and was descending towards Bearnagh in what I can only describe as an uncontrolled and impossibly fast stumble.

I decided to stick to what I know best and slowly picked my way down across the rocks to the gap between Meelmore and Bearnagh before heading off up the ridiculous gradient.. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/4731/