Ott (seen rising above the wall) is a hill everyone has heard about, but not many have actually climbed! Staying true to form, there were no other wakers to be found on it's summit last weekend. In their place however were a couple of eejits on quad bikes. From the pic you can see the extent of the snowfall in the hills last week. The snow had drifted so high in parts that it completely covered the wall on both sides, so you could effectively walk over the wall! I found this highly amusing. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/461/comment/3585/

A good light intro to the Mournes, nice to see it has been given recognition in Mountainviews. Easy access to the summit from the track of the same name off Slievenaman Road, but a much more enjoyable and testing walk is to tackle it along the route in the picture following the Ulster way from Fofanny Dam. Once summited, drop down to the Mourne Wall and decide to tackle Carn and Muck in one direction, Loughshannagh and the Meels in another or the Silent Valley includin Doan and Ben Crom. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/461/comment/2366/

We had the pleasure of free time to do a lovely walk in the Mournes on 30th December 2006. Our route took us from the car park below Slievenamuck, up the Ott track, Ott mountain, Carn mountain and finally Slieve Muck down to the car park south of Spelga Dam. This was a wonderful walk. The cloud formations were very dramatic, more so as the walk progressed. For our start Ott mountain is not a distinctive peak but it was a great stepping stone to the higher peaks. When doing this walk your lungs and legs gradually strengthen which is great for the not so fit! I would recommend this route for those of you that are pressed for time but want dramatic views (Slieve Muck)! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/461/comment/2643/

Unlike the majority of people who hike in the Mournes, I enjoy mountains like Ott. Why? Because you can guarantee that no-one will be at the top when you reach it, and you'll have the whole mountain to yourself... unlike the high-traffic areas of Donard and such like. Park at the Blue Quarry/Ott Car park off the Slievenaman road, and approach from the Ott track. You can follow the track which branches off to the summit of Ott, but I prefer a different approach. My favourite way would be to leave the track half way up, and to head directly to the summit. This (believe it or not) provides some scrambling over steep ground to the summit, and is quite testing! Believe me, do not dismiss Ott or the other minor mountains in the Mournes. If you look at the mountain and try to figure out alternative ways of approaching it, which could make the hike more difficult or challenging, you can fully enjoy what these hills have to offer. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/461/comment/2679/

Set off on a simple ott-carn-loughshannagh-meelbeg route on January 3rd. The plan was to park at the small car park on the ott road at J 280 278 C, however it wasnt the ice or snow that put this plan to bed but rather the scores of cars and jeeps parked along the ott road enjoying the recent snowfalls. Instead we parked at the junction of the B27 and the Ott road at J 277 267 D and walked along the road to the aforementioned carpark. A stile at this carpark gives direct access to Ott mountain along a well established track. The track actually skirts around Ott but the top can easily be tackled using this track. Refer to Carn Mountain for rest of route. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/461/comment/4344/