Alex92 on Slieve Binnian North Top

The North Top of Binnian is easiest approached by following the wall which cuts across the path at the edge of the Annalong Wood. Park at Carrick Little carpark but be extremely cautious, break-ins and vandalism are frequent. Anyway... follow the Carrick Little track up to a gate which enters you into the mountains. The Carrick Little track is a nice enough wee dander, beautiful views stretching across gorse covered farmland (as mentioned by the reliable Bleck Cra) and out across the glistening Irish Sea. You really have to stop for a few minutes half way up the track to appreciate these views, it's well worth it! Continue up the track and go through the gate a press onwards down the track running alongside Wee Binnian and the Annalong Wood. From here I would advise you to wear gaiters, it tends to be very boggy and damp along this path. The views of Rocky Mountain, Donard, Commedagh and Cove from here are surprisingly good. At the end of this path, you will reach a point at the edge of the Annalong Wood where you meet a river and the path "junctions" for want of a better word! Take a left and follow the wall up steep ground alongside the Douglas Crag cliffs to reach the summit of the north top. The views from here are up there with the best in the Mournes. After spending some time admiring the views, head south towards the southern top and down to Wee Binnian. From Wee Binnain you can rejoin the Carrick Little track and head down to the carpark. A great days' walking! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/145/comment/2710/

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Bleck Cra on Slieve Binnian North Top

This is one of the most reliable views in the Mournes. The descent past Binnian North Tor - similar sounding albeit to North Top, but spinning much much slower except of course when an east wind gets under yer kilt - gets fairly steep - I myself went A over T a couple of years back and knocked a few corners off - even in the most persistent cloud, suddenly there it is: Crom, Doan, Bearnagh et al and it can be breathtaking. Better still if you take a tremulous step West, you find yourself on block crags above the reservoir and the little earth-bound people out for their constitutional. The wather boord, as so described up here, were letting a roaring Crom Reservoir into a depleted Spelga one on Sunday: such drama!
All ascents to this cinema screen should be effected from Carrick Little carpark up off Glasdrumman and the Kilkeel Road. Even some of those with endless wit, persist in making an entirely pointless ascent from Spelga, a £3 parking fee and a duck pond. Sure if you want a £3 parking fee and a duckpond, go to a service station in Cumbria. Anyhoo - Kilkeel Road, Maxol Garage (bemused by the money he makes from hillwalkers), Dunny Water Bridge-let and Carrick Little Carpark. Set off past rabbits, whins, postcard Irish countryside, dodgy ponies and given the weather, a vista into the main Mourne horseshoe that will blow your Scarpas clean off. Up dull old, wet old, windy old Binnian - until you're into the Tors and then it all begins.
Even after 10 years of ascending the girl, Binnian never fails to be amazing. Because she's so in your face, you think ah sure she'll wear off - but she never does. She's as big as a continent, as pretty as Polly Perkins and as surprising as MLA Donaldson at the West Belfast Feile. Go get her now ! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/145/comment/1055/

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GWPR on Slieve Binnian North Top

Slieve Bearnagh and Ben Crom Reservoir as viewed from the North Top Slieve Binnian on 19/02/2004. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/145/comment/850/

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tsunami on Slieve Binnian North Top

Climbed Binnian for first time today. Going on the advice from Bleck Cra (again) left from Carrick Little car park and followed the wall to the summit. Although a fairly sunny day in Newry and Kilkeel there was a blanket of cloud covering the summit and it was clear that this would not be a great day for views or photos.
Sure enough about half way up visibilty was down to about ten yards, so being on my first attempt I stuck close to the wall and continued up. When you aren't 100% sure of your exact position in the cloud it is quite eery to see the massive granite Tors suddenly appear only metres from you through the mist - but a welcome sight none the less.
Spent a while wandering around, over and between the Tors through the cloud before walking north along the ridge towards the Black Castles - visability still zero. On reaching the North Top the cloud began to vanish and people began to appear in their dozens walking in the opposite direction to myself. Although they were getting the clear day at the top I will always believe the route up the wall is the better because it hides these magnificent views from you until you reach the top and you can enjoy them for the entirety of your descent.
So, pity about the initial cloud cover, but today proved that Binnian can be magnificent even in the cloud - as if she was hiding a secret from me! Something I will not be shown until beckoned to return the next time. I can't wait! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/145/comment/1061/

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fergal meath on Slieve Binnian North Top

Had a sun baked few hours in the Mournes today. Started at the Carrick Little car park and continued along the path to the two gates, up over the stile and continued along the path by the Annalong forest and up to the saddle between Binnian North top and Lamagan. Views from here are amazing. From here went up to North Tors and on to Binnian proper, more stunning views and back down by the wall (about 4 hours excluding stops). Picture shows the ascent from the saddle to the Binnian North Tors and Buzzards Roost to the left. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/145/comment/3782/

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