The Mourne Mountains

Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

The melody and words 'Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea' of the popular song written by Percy French in 1896, have made the Mournes the best-known mountains in Ireland. An area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Mourne Mountains are the most picturesque in Ireland and were the inspiraton for the writer CS Lewis's magical land of Narnia in his popular children's books the Chronicles of Narnia.  In this compact range, 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, only a dozen of the sixty or so individual summits rise above 2,000ft, with Slieve Donard, at 2,796ft, the highest peak in Ulster.

Activities in the Mournes

The Mourne Mountains and its surrounding area provide every outdoor activity from hill walking, rock climbing, and mountain boarding to horse riding, fishing and golf.  The perfect holiday location for the outdoor enthusiast.

Flora and Fauna on the Mournes

Aside from grasses, the most common plants found in the Mournes are heathers. Of these, three species are found: the cross-leaved heath (erica tetralix), the bell heather (erica cinerea), and the ling (calluna vulgaris). Other plants which grow in the area are: Bog Cotton, Roseroot (Rhodiola rosea), Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia), Marsh St John's Wort, Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum), Wood sorrel and Heath Spotted Orchids.

Sheep graze high into the mountains, and the range is also home to birds, including the common Raven, Peregrine Falcon, Wren, and Buzzard, and native Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat and Snipe.  Red Kites were re-introduced to the area in 2008.