Hen Mountain is a conspicuous outlier of the Western Mournes, with steep slopes rising to a summit bristling with numerous spectacular granite tors, and it provides an excellent miniature summary of the huge appeal of this group of hills.

The summit would generally be reached at the beginning or climax of a longer hillwalk, linking as it does to the higher (but much less aesthetic) Cock Mountain. An ascent invariably starts from the small car park and picnic area on the Sandbank Road just north of the Rockyriver Bridge at (A (J232 276)). Cross the road and take a sandy gravelly track on the left of the obvious house. This climbs gently up to a gate with a stile on the right at (B (J239 276)); once past this head straight up the slope (there is a path, but circumstances underfoot are reasonably straighforward anywhere). Keep left of the impending West Tor to reach a small pool; the summit is the first of two large tors on the left. There is much outcropping rock but the highest point is easily attained on (mostly) grass.

The summit area is a fascinating playground of granite, very much deserving a leisurely exploration. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1388/comment/17836/