gerrym on Millstone Mountain

Start out from the supermarket sized carpark at Donard Park and follow the tried and tested route up along the Glen river. The path follows one bank of the river then the other, as bridges span deep incisions in the tough Mourne rock. At the third bridge (A (J365 297)) leave the crowds who continue with the river and take the forest track heading SE.

The track drops slightly before rising up out of the pine and holly trees to reach the working granite quarry below Thomas's Mtn. A fridge/freezer sized block was hewn and strapped ready for moving - unlike the small stream usually tumbling down the back of the quarry wall which was all but frozen due to the recent cold spell.This is a magnificent viewpoint down over Newcastle and the sweeping sands of Dundrum Bay. An amazing place to work i would think. Some motorbikes pulled into the quarry just after i had left obviously using the network of fairly good forest tracks.

Continue past the quarry to a gate/stile and take a rough track immediately on the right, climbing above the quarry to the small stream. This was frozen into large chunks of ice as followed on the left side of the little valley it has carved out for itself. All other water on the hillside was similarly frozen and care was needed to avoid slipping. Recent fire has removed all but the bare arms of the heather on a large part of the hillside, aiding walking if nothing else. The cairn on top was reached in an hour.

The views are extensive to the N and E - across the little harbour far below, Dundrum Bay, Stranford Lough, Belfast Hills, Irish sea til Isle of Man and a snow capped Slieve Croob. There was surprisingly no snow here (with the Sperrins having a covering from top to bottom) though a quick glance to the higher slopes of Donard fixed that. A very strong wind discouraged dawdling and everthing else!

This is really a stop on the way to Donard, though would make a great spot to spend some time on a lazy summers day. I headed for the full ferocity of winter atop Donard, descending gingerly to the saddle. Not wanting to tread warily on any more icy steps I headed over Slieve Commedagh and down her N ridge to meet the Glen River path on more level terms. A dander of nearly 6 mile in under 4 hours. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/584/comment/4314/

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Fine views from Donard's smaller neighbour

Millstone Mountain is inevitably dominated by its larger neighbour to the west, but is a fine summit in its own right with extensive views to the north as shown by this panorama. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/584/comment/6138/

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Harry Goodman on Millstone Mountain

A rewarding way to climb Millstone Mountain is to start at the car park at Newcastle Harbour B (J381 296) and follow the way marked route of The Granite Trail directly up through the forest. The steep trail up follows the line of a former funicular railway known locally as the Boggie Line which was used to transport the granite down from the mountain to the Harbour. The Granite Trail climb up is just over 1100 metres long to the Quarry below Millstone. After crossing the stile the track turns right past Millstone Mountain Quarry and follows along across another stile to a marker and viewpont ( highest point on the Granite Trail ) near Thomas Mountain Quarry. From C (J371 293) climb up around the right side of the quarry making sure to stay well away from the edge to your left side. Gradually work your way around from heading SW to go SE across a sream and up to the summit at 460m. ( If time and energy allows it is a rewarding approach to the top of Slieve Donard from Millstone Mt. Walk SW across a boggy dip before climbing up the Eastern slopes of Donard, initially over soggy and peaty terrain but increasingly rockey ground up to the Lesser Cairn at D (J35950 27900). From here a short walk SSW will take you to the highest point in Ulster. Descend W with a touch of N along the Mourne Wall to the coll at E (J24950 27950), then NE down the Glen River track to pick up the route down from Millstone at JA (J365 297) ) To descend directly from Millstone re-trace the route down NNW over the stream and then NE around the Quarry keeping it well to your right. Once down take the track heading NNW into the forest and follow it along to cross a bridge over the Glen River. ( If the walk up Donard has been taken this is the point where the two routes meet up for the final part of the descent down along the Glen River ) Turn right along a path which follows the line of the river down. At the next bridge turn right and once across, immeadiately left down the river track. On reaching Donard Bridge G (J372 302) do not go across but turn right and follow the forest track out to the public road and then left to the main Newcastle to Kilkeel road. Turn right and walk along to the Harbour Car Park. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/584/comment/4155/

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