Slemish Mountain

From the car park on Carnstroan Lane, a grassy track leads to the foot of Slemish and a steep, rocky path climbs to the summit ridge, about 437 m above the plain. On a clear day the view takes in the Antrim and Scottish coasts, Ballymena, Lough Neagh and the Sperrins. We walk to the south end of the crest and come back by the same path.

It is 1.4 km there and back with 185 m of ascent; allow about 1 hour. The grade is Moderate: a very short walk, but steep and rocky, and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council says the path can be very slippery in wet weather and that safe access may be affected by weather and ground conditions. We have set a floor of Moderate for that reason. The council also asks that all dogs are kept on leads.

Slemish is the central core of an extinct volcano. Tradition makes it St Patrick's first Irish home, where he is said to have worked as a shepherd. On 17 March large crowds climb to the summit.

The council describes the car park as a large one with interpretation boards and washrooms, and lists the parking as 'Free (parking charges may apply)' without giving a charge. The council's circuit returns by the south and south-west slopes; OpenStreetMap does not join those paths to the car park, so this line goes up and down the one path.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.