Meelmore Highs

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: mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/1327/

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short hike but amazing

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: mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/17541/

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A strange beast

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: mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/4731/

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Happy Valley Hike

I climbed this mountain today for the 4th time, but decided to approach it from different angle. Started off from the Happy Valley car park (B (J293 296)) and followed the path, beside a lovely stream up to the Mourne wall at the saddle between Slieve Meelmore and Meelbeg. Before the saddle, the wall from the Happy Valley car park turns sharply left. It is possible to climb the mountain by following the wall. However, the gradient is quite steep and, more importantly, one does not get the decent view towards Ben Crom, Binnian and Lamagan instantly. So, upon reaching the wall, we crossed the stile and turned left towards Meelmore. For anyone thinking about this route for the first time, don't forget to turn around and enjoy the views towards Doan, Silent Valley and Knockchree. Upon reaching the summit nice views were to be had towards Slieve Bernagh, Brandy pad, Commedagh and Donard. Above all, the view towards Lough Island Reavy Reservoir is stunning from Slieve Meelmore. I think Slieve Meelmore is probably the best mountain in the Mournes to study the reservoir from. Returned back the way we came. 5km walk in total. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/6041/

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csd on Slieve Meelmore

A fairly easy day's walk that can be attempted in the short days of winter. Park at the car park to the west of Clonachullion Hill (at Trassey Car Park (J311 314)) and follow the Trassey Track as far as the right turn at C (J319 292). Head for Pollaphuca and the col between Slieve Bearnagh and Slieve Meelmore where you'll hit the Mourne Wall. Follow the right-most branch of the wall up to Slieve Meelmore (this is listed as 704m on the OS map, not 680 as recorded here!). Once you've gained the summit, savour the views before following the wall south again to the intersection with the main Mourne Wall at D (J305 285). Follow the westward spur to the track above the river, and then follow the Ulster Way back to the car park. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/138/comment/361/

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