A PATRICK ZERKOWSKI FILM

Patrick Zerkowski whets the appetite of the prospective walker with a very clear film of Slieve Martin and surrounding areas. Needless to say, given Slieve Martin's location on Carlingford Lough there are plenty of sea views. I like the fact that the early part of the walk is captured, showing the forest tracks: all very helpful and informative. A very useful piece: it does exactly what it says on the tin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFq9cgXxdZs Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/498/comment/17923/

Read Less

Southern Mournes Walk

I climbed this mountain for the third time yesterday. Started off from the car park near the forest office in Rostrevor and followed the path up past Fiddlers Green and eventually came to Cloghmore Boulder. After leaving the forest, we simply followed the path up to the trig pillar at Slievemartin. Slievemartin offers very decent views across Carlingford Lough to Slieve Foye. Turning clockwise, Pierce's Castle, Cock mountain, Shanlieve and Eagle mountain of the Western Mournes come into view. Further afield, Binnian and Donard became visible. After short break, we headed toward Knockshee. After marshy terrain to start with, a well-trodden path enabled quick access to Knockshee, approx 2km from Slievemartin. Views extended toward Lamagan, Slievenaglogh, Commedagh, wee Binnian and Ben Crom as well as previously listed mountains from the summit. Thereafter, we simply re-traced our steps and headed back toward Rostrevor via Slievemartin. The full walk was 11.5km and took approx 4 hours. The only 'tricky' section is the path from Rostrevor to Cloghmore Boulder - the path does get narrower after leaving the car park and some trees had fallen across the path. Setting aside the path, this walk falls into the category of 'great views with minimal effort.' Slievemartin would be in my top 5 Mourne summits - the others being Doan, Slieve Binnian, Eagle mountain and Slieveloughshannagh. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/498/comment/6612/

Read Less

csd on Slievemartin

The easiest approach to Slievemartin is probably from the Rostrevor Forest Park car park at D (J195 173). From here it's easy to follow the tracks up to the summit of Slievemartin, even if it does appear you have to head in the opposite direction when setting off. It should take 45 mins or less to get to the summit; Slievemeen and Crenville are also eminently doable from this starting point. The stunning views from Slievemartin belie its relatively modest elevation: most of the Mournes are visible (including Donard), as well as great panoramas of the Cooleys and Slieve Gullion. Recommended. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/498/comment/2785/

Read Less

three5four0 on Slievemartin

After Crenville the slopes to Slievemartin were most welcome, a relative short stroll up a grassy slope, with a fence to cross to get to the summit. In the afternoon sun the views were good, with Knockshee looking as if it would give a good circuit along with Slievemeen. As for including Crenville (see my post), go there if you must and go prepared & soothe yourself later with a fine pint of real ale from the White Water Brewery . Onto Slievemeen Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/498/comment/3241/

Read Less

Bleck Cra on Slievemartin

If proof were needed that the mountainview FROM the article is worth 10 times that OF the article, it is Slievemartin. In the SW of the magnificent Mourne Mountains (further and you drop into Carlingford Lough), it presents no redeeming features; in fact it presents no features at all other than the jetsam from a half-demolished communications tower and some stone or other to go and see, for those of us who like to go and see stones. Excepting a pretty jaunt off, through faery woodland, it exhibits no more than you expect from the fringe of the flock: woolly, cranky and not the brightest star in the firmament. “Beauty” is a word devalued by over and untrained use, but if it could be used only once, it could be used to describe the land and town scapes that cuckoon dull old Slievemartin. From the infamous and discomfiting Narrow Waters, through Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, a riviera of natural and domestic wealth and sophistication confidently flows. “Riviera” - there’s another one of these words. For those of us who have rotissed on the Cote D’Azur, in the reign of la Bardot, there can be no other Riviera - but this coastline, yes this Northern Irish coastline, is about as close as you can get: craggy promontaries against sunlit skylines, bold sharp seas to different worlds, heather-clad foothills; him and her sauntering from one sophisticated café and restaurant to the next, while Jennifer and Geoffrey carelessly go about for the millionth time today. Lee Ho. Genuinely European towns quite beyond the perspective of the entrenched North and increasingly revered by the discerning South - which is not really surprising, as from the scrapyard summit of said Slievemartin, Carlingford and Rostrevor are no farther apart than lovers across a table. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/498/comment/2808/

Read Less