Cove is an interesting, steep-sided mountain in the E. Mournes. Take care as its S and E flanks are extremely steep and are only breached by the Coachman’s Rd. – a v steep gully which is not for the faint-hearted. It affords fine local views esp of Bearnagh and Donard and of the many valleys in the area.

S. Park at the busy Carrick Little carpark at J345 219 A, room for 10-15 cars. Walk up the farm track next the carpark & over a stile to open hillside. Follow a good track to J33390 24389 B, turn right and join up various tracks to reach the col between Lamagan and Cove. Now take the obvious track skirting the cliffs right to the summit. 2hrs+

S. Cove can be done as part of the long Annalong Circuit. Park at junction J35780 22320 C and take the track N which starts 80m to the E. At J35284 23513 D swing right up to the SSE spur of Rocky Mt. From the summit head either to Donard or contour below it to the W. Aim for J34193 27894 E after which you summit S. Beg and drop to its W col before climbing steeply to the top of Cove. 3hrs+

N. Start at Meelmore Lodge J30613 30801 F – secure paid parking (free car park at J31089 31306 G). Head S to join the well-worn Trassey Track to the Hare’s Gap and on to J34193 27894 E. Now follow the route W as above. 2.5 hrs
NW. From Donard Park J37499 30597 H follow the established route to J34981 27939 I and on to J34193 27894 E, continuing as above. 2.25 hrs

Notable tracks incl. track/2865, circular track/3052 and the long track/3076.
. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/4941/

Les mellieurs bons amis, Porthole, Ath-hole and Brendigo are off to the Twelve Bens sans moi. Compared with the Bens, seemingly a cocked hat is the best place to deposit most other Irish challenge walks. So I have opted not to die on the hill - at least not duck-taped to a defibrillator. Groping for shards of dignity, I planned instead a weekend rendezvous with the Mourne 7 7s. By midweek, the plan had shrivelled to 5. By Sunday and half way up Donard, that merciless small rain that seeps into your soul, sent me on a downward spiral, very nearly downward home. All it needed was a burst bootlace and the cyanide tablets were coming out. Not up to the Bens; not up to the 7s; and at the final reckoning, not much up to the rain either - and the prospect of turning those leaden footsteps into gold wasn’t even on the page. Fool, that I forgot that the Mournes and Magic are one and the same. An aimless wander eastwards off the Brandy Pad and down to the first track wider than snail-prints, teases you into a hanging, high traverse and an airy wonderland of sheer rock faces, precipitous heathery descents and terrifying gullies.You will skid and scuttle through granite screes, twist, weave and flail around, sometimes for your life, while the strange Annalong whispers far below. First, Slieve Beag presents the Devil’s Coachroad at its launch pad; next, frightening crags and plate slabs soar up into Cove Mountain, who eventually expels you bruised and battered on to her Southern flank. A langourous lollop along the Annalong lip of Cove threatens wicked drops into blackness; kiss the ragged teeth above the Coachroad and stumble out baffled back to the Pad. Pas pour tous mais certainement pour un. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/3060/

Cove Mountain: quick, quick. Got to get to Binnian; got to get to Commedagh. Once in a manic race against shadows, I tripped over truth. Just at the Annalong foot of Cove, I was enticing a walker’s canine outrider into a patted head, as a bribe not to bite me. I enquired of a pleasant woman, it’s companion, her route. She was coming up the Annalong to the foot of Commedagh and then she was going back home to a big Sunday dinner. “And you?” Ah me - what was I not doing, and then after that, conquering the world or better, dying in the attempt. Unaffectedly she said “But why don’t you stop. It’s so pretty.” Simple, true, Cove Mountain - “Why don’t you stop. It’s so pretty.” Don’t underestimate it. To avoid a seizure, warm up before you attack the short but tough pull up her Northern shin. Incidentally, I’m confident a troll lives in her hems - and when indisposed, can make the water flow backwards. Heading up and South, you will take the Aztec route along the lip of some spooky crags and not even know it. You will see the summit and if you can find a track to it, you get to keep the gold. Better still, wing out East, like you might be Icarus, and of a sudden you will be above the Upper Cove crags - and the best seats in the house for the mesmerising and surreal Annalong Valley Show. On a summer’s day, you will stop and drop down amongst hot square boulders and bumble bees, where you will sit like a fat lizard, intoxicated until time to go home. Access by Slieve Beg from the Brandy Pad Track or conversely off Binnian and Lamagan. Cove Mountain. Hurry. Stop. (Pic right). Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/1470/

Climbed Cove as part of a 10 mile cicular route. Started at CarrickLittle carpark , went up the track to the Mourne wall and turned right at the stone in the front of picture. We crossed the wall and headed down along the Annalong wood keeping field side , easier walking , crossed the river , there are large stepping stones , and up and across a little road running through the wood .Walked up another 2 fields and came to a laneway , turned left and walked about 50m to the end of lane and turned right onto a track leading up to Rocky mtn .
When you're on this track you'll get to see just how big Binnian really is . At the base of Rocky mtn there are lots of ruins of miners huts and evidence of the work that went on there , cut and shaped rock etc.
we followed the track over towards the wall and climbed to the summit from there. Great views of all the surrouning mtns from here. Back to the wall and had a bite to eat and on from there along the wall to the Brandy pad , we went around by the castles and had an easy enough climb up onto Slieve Beg .
From Beg we headed for Cove , this was a steep climb , but worth it when you get to the summit . We kept on the track towards Lamagan and veered left , down by Cove lough and Lower Cove and onto the track in the Annalong valley . From there we aimed for the corner of the wood and back to the carpark . Great walk , all on easy to follow tracks , total ascent of about 700m and took roughly 5 and a half hours . Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/1709/

What an interesting mountain! Park at the Carrick Little car park, and follow the track to where you meet a stream on the edge of the Annalong Wood. From here, follow the track which takes you to the foot of Cove. The climb to the summit is relatively easy, but be sure to check out the cave on your way up! The photo shows me when I was about 8, with friends half way up Cove. To the left of the photo you can see the cave. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/2634/

The east side of the southern ridge off Slieve Commedagh contains some fine cliffs. There is a rough path running along the west side of this, the Annalong valley. Going north on this you finally meet the Brandy Pad, passing the fine cliff shown here and then the spectacular foot of Slieve Beg.

To the right, the photo shows Slieve Donard on the skyline, the Annalong Buttress under it. Also see the path mentioned previously to the right and the “Lower Cove” cliff which is actually nearer Slievelamagan than Cove. According to [Bernard Davey’s Mourne 1999] “.. the base of Lower Cove (which) has a dangerous cave. Casual explorers would do well to proceed with caution if they intend investigating further, as I have heard of people getting stuck inside it.” Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/181/comment/1275/