Bleck Cra on Slievemoughanmore

The more spontaneous of us will come at Slievemoughanmore as the crow flies - ex the Rocky River track from the Rocky River Bridge and find her at 559m, small and undemanding. The rest of us will more than not, encounter her after a run of anything from one (Pigeon Rock) to three (Hen, Cock, Pigeon -or- Rocky, Tornamrock, Eagle) tops, when she becomes a brief but tough old haul to her lonely and desolate summit. Unlike the Eastern Mournes where summits are defined by a kink in the wall, a trig point or some other obstacle enroute (excepting Commedagh), most of the cairns in the Shanlieve Group require a short, if albeit disorienting deviation from your main route - Batts Wall Slievemoughanmore is no exception. From here it is but a short lep to the matriach/s of the clann, Eagle-come-Shanlieve effectively two tops of the same hill - and if you would forego the classic horseshoe configuration, thereafter south along the truly Great Gully. If you want a more diverting and odder experience, head North straight off her, into the void. I think it was Chris Bonnington once questioned by a tabloid interviewer if he believed sightings of Abominable Snowman genuine, replied that in continuous exposure to such emptiness, AS was the least you would “sight”. The confluence of the Rocky and Rowan Tree rivers framing Slievemoughanmore presents one such emptiness and it is awesome. The ribs of recently deceased turf-digging corrugate the landscape and expose the skeletons of broken bog oak. Nothing with living branches exceeds an inch above the ground. And it seems to go on forever. The tors of Hen in the distance add to this moonscape tableau and threaten like ancient guardians of the glen. Watch they don’t get you on the way home. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/344/comment/2348/

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Great views for minimal effort

Started from Deers Meadow and climbed Slievemoughanmore after Pigeon Rock following Batts Wall. The summit is around 150 metres away from the wall and is marked by two cairns, neither of which appear to mark the actual summit proper. Great views across to Spelga Dam, Cock and Hen Mountain and onto Meelbeg, Meelmore and Bearnagh. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/344/comment/6049/

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tsunami on Slievemoughanmore

Much like the ever trustworthy Mourne Wall, which provides a timeless companion and navigation aid around the High Mournes summits, so Batts Wall fulfills a similar role around the higher peaks of the Western Mournes. Seen hear crossing Slieve Moughanmore just to the south east of it's summit, it offers a very nice route from Altataggart, across Shanlieve, Eagle Mountain, Slieve Moughanmore, Pigeon Rock Mountain and up Slieve Muck where it links the Mourne Wall and leaves the walker spoilt for choice. This view was taken from the summit of Eagle Mountain. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/344/comment/1472/

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gary on Slievemoughanmore

Excellent view on a summer’s day! Spelga Dam is in the centre of the picture. Far left is Hen then Cock; Pigeon Rock Mountain in the foreground and Slieve Muck to the right (if I’m not mistaken). In the distance, to the right, is the sweeping rise of Slieves Meelbeg and Meelmore and finally the unmistakable outline of Slieve Bearnagh. That's my map reading skills being pushed to the limit (if any of those peaks are wrong, please contact the webmaster - Thanks. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/344/comment/1379/

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Pigeon- Moughanmore walk

I climbed Slievemoughanmore for the first time yesterday in fairly good conditions. Started off from Deer's Meadow and followed the Mourne wall over Pigeon. From this point fine views opened up of Spelga Dam. As we continued to follow the wall, we ascended Slievemoughanmore. From the summit we could see Cock and Slievenamiskan to the west and Bernagh and Slieve Muck further afield. Thereafter we descended to the WIndy Gap and saw Rocky, Tornamock and Pierce's Castle. After lunch we followed the path beside the Great Gully of Eagle (very impressive). Upon returning to the wall we headed straight towards Pigeon's lower car park and enjoyed very impressive views of Slievenaglogh and the Binnians - a good 7 mile walk which I would recommend. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/344/comment/4743/

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