National park · United Kingdom
Mourne Mountainsna Beanna Boirche
No entry fee and no gate: park free and walk Slieve Donard from Donard Park in 4 h return, or drive the Silent Valley for the same granite without the climb; go on a weekday May–June or September, and skip the car park after 10:00 on a sunny weekend.No entry fee and no gate: park free and walk Slieve Donard from Donard Park in 4 h return, or drive the Silent Valley for the same granite without the climb; go on a weekday May–June or September, and skip the car park after 10:00 AM on a sunny weekend.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
570 km²220 sq mi
approximate
Established
1966
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 570 km²220 sq mi
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation, extended in 1986 to take in Slieve Croob, farmland and coast; boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1966
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
The Mournes are not a national park: no gate, no fee, no park authority. They are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a farmed and inhabited upland of granite, heather and drystone walls, with Northern Ireland's highest summit — Slieve Donard at 850 m — reachable on foot from a street in Newcastle in about two hours. The range runs roughly 20 km from Newcastle to Rostrevor, most of it between 500 and 650 m, so the days are hill days rather than mountaineering: boots, a map and waterproofs, and a plan for the weather, which arrives fast. Access is open on foot across farmland and the National Trust's ground; you pay only for parking, buses and the reservoir valley. A car makes the southern trailheads at Annalong and the Silent Valley far easier, but Belfast and Newry both have direct buses to Newcastle, so a summit day is possible without one. The main hazard is not altitude but road traffic on narrow approach roads, plus bog, erosion and cloud on the tops.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1966Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; extended 1986. Not a national park — no park authority, no entry fee.
Size and age
570 km²220 sq mi · national park since 1966
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation, extended in 1986 to take in Slieve Croob, farmland and coast; boundary figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- The highest ground in Northern Ireland, with Slieve Donard at 850 m, reached on foot from a town street in about two hours.
- Granite, heather and the Mourne Wall running over 15 summits — a hill day that needs boots, not technical gear.
- The Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs give a firm-track walk with the big ridges above you.
- You can do it by bus from Belfast and be back the same evening.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort daylight, wet ground, snow and ice on the tops
- FebCold and grey; cloud often sits on the summits
- MarLonger days, but boggy and changeable
- AprDrier spells; still cold and windy up top
- MayLong evenings, heather and gorse colour, fewer crowds than summer
- JunLongest days; midges on still evenings
- JulWarm but busy at weekends; showers build fast
- AugPeak crowds and parked-out car parks on fine weekends
- SepClear, quieter, ground still firm
- OctAutumn colour; daylight drops quickly
- NovWet and windy; many facilities wind down
- DecVery short days; ice on the high paths
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain sheep and cattle grazing to the summitsAll year · Keep dogs under control and close gates. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Heather and gorse in flowerMay–Aug | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Seabirds and waders along the coast and lough shoreMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Midges on still summer eveningsJun–Aug | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Belfast
Bus to Newcastle, then walk to Donard Park at the foot of the Glen River path.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Newry
Bus or train to Newry, then the cross-country bus to Newcastle; a car is quicker for the Annalong and Silent Valley trailheads.
1–1.5 h
From Dublin
Train or bus to Newry, then onward bus to Newcastle.
3–4 h
From By car
A2 coast road or the A1/M1 from Belfast; trailhead car parks at Donard Park, Bloody Bridge and Carrick Little.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle and the Glen River | Town base, Donard Park, the Glen River path and the lower Granite Trail. | Open; pay-and-display parking. |
| High Mournes and the Mourne Wall | Slieve Donard, Commedagh, Bearnagh and the wall crossing 15 summits. | Open access on foot; no facilities. |
| Silent Valley and Ben Crom | Reservoir valley with a firm track and the ridges of Binnian above it. | Track open; vehicle access and charges vary (check). |
| Annalong and Carrick Little | Southern trailheads for Slieve Binnian and the Brandy Pad. | Open; small car parks. |
| Rostrevor and Carlingford Lough | Oak woodland, coastal paths and the lough shore. | Open; forest park. |
Sketch map
- 1Newcastle · Town≈54.214, -5.890Map ↗
- 2Donard Park trailhead · Gate≈54.205, -5.896Map ↗
- 3Slieve Donard summit · Summit≈54.180, -5.921Map ↗
- 4Slieve Commedagh · Summit≈54.189, -5.939Map ↗
- 5Slieve Binnian · Summit≈54.143, -5.981Map ↗
- 6Silent Valley · Trail≈54.147, -6.006Map ↗
- 7Carrick Little car park · Gate≈54.144, -5.999Map ↗
- 8Bloody Bridge · Trail≈54.174, -5.884Map ↗
- 9Slieve Croob · Summit≈54.340, -5.974Map ↗
- 10Rostrevor · Village≈54.100, -6.200Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to the Mournes | Free | person | No gate, no permit, no park fee — the area is an AONB, not a national park. |
| Car parking (Donard Park, Newcastle) | GBP 0–6 | day | 2026 estimate; pay-and-display, check the machine on arrival. |
| Car parking (Carrick Little, above Annalong) | GBP 0–5 | day | 2026 estimate; small gravel car park, fills early on weekends. |
| Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs | GBP 0–6 | car | 2026 estimate; access and any charge vary by season and operator (check). |
| Rambler bus, Newcastle ring | GBP 0–10 | person | 2026 estimate; a few runs a day, seasonal timetable (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Hill walking no permit
Mourne Wall challenge no permit
Group or commercial guiding permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Keep them under control and on a lead around livestock, especially in spring.
- Gates and walls
- Close gates behind you and do not climb or damage the Mourne Wall.
- Litter and fires
- No fires; carry all rubbish out — there are no bins on the hills.
- Parking
- Use designated car parks only; parking on verges and farm entrances blocks access.
- Drones
- Check current restrictions before flying over the reservoirs and farmland (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Newcastle
Hotels, guesthouses and hostels at the foot of Donard; walking distance to the main trailhead.
Near the park
Annalong and Kilkeel
Smaller coastal bases closest to Carrick Little and the Silent Valley.
Near the park
Rostrevor and Warrenpoint
Lough-side rooms for the southern side and Carlingford Lough.
Near the park
Belfast
City base with the widest choice; doable as a long day trip by bus.
Safety
Road traffic medium
Weather turning on the tops high
Bog, mud and eroded paths medium
No phone signal medium
Short winter daylight medium
Accessibility
- The Silent Valley reservoir track is firm and largely level, suitable for wheels with assistance.
- Donard Park, the lower Granite Trail and the coastal paths at Bloody Bridge and Annalong give short, low-gradient walks.
- The high summits are steep, eroded and often boggy; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on established paths; the granite and peat soils erode quickly and repairs are slow.
- Take everything out — there are no bins above the trailheads.
- Use the bus from Belfast or Newry for Newcastle rather than adding a car to already full weekend car parks.
- Buy food and fuel in Newcastle, Annalong or Kilkeel so the villages keep the benefit of hill traffic.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mourne Mountains?
Nothing. There is no gate, no permit and no park fee — the Mournes are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not a national park. You pay only for parking, typically a few pounds a day at Donard Park or Carrick Little (2026 estimate), and for buses.
What are the best hikes in Mourne Mountains?
Slieve Donard via the Glen River from Donard Park is the classic: about 5 km each way, 4 hours return, steep and muddy near the top. Bloody Bridge and the Brandy Pad is longer and more scenic. Slieve Binnian from Carrick Little is a roughly 11 km triangular walk over the Silent Valley. The Silent Valley reservoir track is the easy option.
When is the best time to visit Mourne Mountains?
May, June and September: long daylight, firmer ground and fewer people than July and August. Fine summer weekends bring heavy traffic and full car parks, so arrive before 10:00 or come on a weekday. Winter days are short and the tops can be icy.
Do I need a guide to climb Slieve Donard?
No. The Glen River path from Donard Park is signed and straightforward for anyone with boots and reasonable fitness. Take a map and waterproofs; cloud can hide the route and the upper path is eroded.
Can I get to the Mournes without a car?
Yes. Regular buses run from Belfast to Newcastle, and from Newry to Newcastle, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and Kilkeel. A seasonal rambler bus circles the mountains from Newcastle. A car makes the Annalong and Silent Valley trailheads much easier.
Is the Mourne Wall walk doable in a day?
It is about 35 km over 15 summits and takes most fit walkers 10–12 hours. Start at first light, carry all your water and plan a bail-out. There is no shelter or water on the route.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go