Western Mournes Hike

I think Shanlieve is best climbed as part of a circuit of a longer walk rather than in isolation. Due to its close proximity of Eagle mountain and given the fact that Eagle mountain is taller, spectacular views would be missed if one stopped at Shanlieve. I recently climbed this mountain as part of a circuit which took in Shanlieve, Eagle, Slievemoughanmore, wee Slievemoughan and Rocky mountain. Starting from Leitrim Lodge, we followed the path which ran from the car park towards Pierce's Castle. To the right of the path lay Altataggart and Tievedockaragh and to the left of the path lay Rocky mountain, Tornamrock and Pierce's Castle. Unfortunately, this path does come to an end after Pierce's Castle. Thereafter, there is marshy pathless terrain to cover as we headed toward the Mourne wall, leading up to Shanlieve. This is the first steep ascent of the walk. However, upon summiting Shanlieve, nice views were to had of the Binnians and Slievenaglogh. Turning left, we followed the wall towards Eagle mountain. For me, the best part of hillwalking is the point when an extensive panoranma opens up very suddenly, when all one sees beforehand is the mountain which is being climbed. Arguably, Eagle mountain, is the best mountain in the Mournes in this respect. Extensive views are to had in every direction: Turning clockwise: Hen, Cock, Slievemoughanmore, Butter, Slieve Muck, Bernagh, Commedagh, Donard, Binnain, Slievenalogh, Finlieve, Shanlieve, Slieve Foye/Gullion in the Cooleys. We followed the wall from Eagle to the Windy Gap and thereafter climbed Slievemoughanmore. I would strongly recommend turning away from the wall as one draws near the summit. The summit cairn is a reached by turning left from the wall when the plateau flattens after the ascent from Windy Gap. The summit cairn offers decent views of the Spelga Dam and the valley between Cock/Hen and Rocky/Tornamrock. We descended towards wee Slievemoughan. This is probably, the smallest mountain in the Mournes. After summiting we headed towards the valley between Rocky mountain (opposite Hen) and Tornamrock. At this point, it is possible to return to Leitrim Lodge or, alternatively, take in Rocky. The main reason to take in Rocky mountain is simply this: you can admire all the mountains which you have just climbed: Shanlieve, Eagle, Slievemoughanmore, wee Slievemoughan. The full circuit is just over 11km. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/236/comment/6785/

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Bleck Cra on Shanlieve

The western Mournes hang grim, grey and glowering over the most beautiful Irish countryside this side of a Killarney postcard. The latter roams green, gold and free, as its inhabitants, in pretty foothill towns like Hilltown and Kilcoo. Politics hasn’t much changed here in a millennium: the invaders - English, Norman French, Welsh and other blow-in adventurers basked on the balmy coast while the indigenous chieftains paced restlessly in the boggy interior. Between them and guarding the gate …., these wily townlands and villages. These are Mournes but not as we know them Jim. They are trackless, endless, sometimes pointless and can make the River Amazon seem dry. But they have an appeal: and that is strangeness. Hen rises, a raggle of tors barely knee-high to her neighbours, but like an irritating tomboy threatens grevious mischief from crags, tops, gullies and dizzy drops. Boggy Cock Mountain would drain hope from the Pilgrim Fathers. Pigeon Rock, a soggy ankle-snapper, confuddles us with 2 tops. Batts wall, not in the muscular style of the Mourne one, but more believeable, tracks a route up to Slievemoughanmore, to Eagle, then to the summit of the experience, Shanlieve - at the centre of the horseshoe and placed to squint at her more feted eastern cousins - and so ever downwards to what’s left of Shan Lough. To the conservationist, this marks the loss of another Mournes lough and to the average walker, the wettest spot on the planet. This strangeness is punctuated by mirages like Pierce’s Castle, the bizarre desert-bog-desert at its foot, the Great Gully off Eagle Mountain - black and spoooooky and the oddest of ancient(?) man-made formations at the turn of the river under Rocky. Would you love them if you reared them? Probably not a lot - but probably. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/236/comment/2121/

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gerrym on Shanlieve

I started at Yellow River picnic area (grid Yellow Water Park (J209 223)) and followed path upstream crossing 2 bridges onto a forest road. Follow this uphill and along valley side through Rostrevor Forest until reach Batts Wall (grid H (J218 237)). Cross wall and take rough track to a religious monument celebrating Pope John Pauls visit to Ireland - complete with large cross and alter table! Continue uphill along Batts Wall which goes direct to the summit - gaiters are a necessity. From the summit there are good views to Binnian and into the Silent Valley to Ben Crom, continued over 2km south staying above 550m to reach Finlieve for views over Carlinford Lough. Had cloud cover and heavy mist most of day but sun came out as i was returning so got some nice pics - Shanlieve reflected in Shanlough included here. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/236/comment/846/

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three5four0 on Shanlieve

After Eagle Mtn it is a short walk to Shanlieve & an ideal stop for my lunch on my hike to Rostrevor.

Descending S, then SSW towards point 583 before turning west for pt 476 and SW again to pt 432,
with a fence to negotiate on the way to Slievemeel. The best thing is to leave this slopes well alone,
particularly after rain. Perhaps better tackled after about 4 foot of snowfall in snowshoes or skis. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/236/comment/3238/

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Two for the price of one!

From Eagle, it's just a short stroll along Batts Wall across to the summit cairn on Shanlieve - a case of two 600 metre summits for the price of one!. The cairn stands just a short distance from the wall and on our visit, was surrounded by a white covering of Bog Cotton. Pigeon Rock, Slievemoughanmore, Eagle and Shanlieve make up a nice walk from Deers Meadow, the only drawback being that you have to retrace your steps back to the starting point although the more adventurous can plot a return route off the beaten track. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/236/comment/6056/

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