Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From Carrick Little car park, walk north up the stony lane to the gate in the Mourne Wall. Turn left and climb beside the wall, straight up the south ridge, to the foot of Slieve Binnian's summit tor. The walk passes below the tor and does not climb it: the top needs hands on rock. Follow the ridge north past the granite tors of the Back Castles and the North Tor, then drop east above the Blue Lough and head back south down the Annalong valley by the edge of Annalong Wood. The loop goes clockwise.
It is 10.9 km round with 619 m of ascent; allow about 4½ hours. The grade is Moderate: a long, steep climb by the wall, a rocky ridge and boggy ground on the way down.
There is no public right of way: walkers cross private grazing land by the landowners' goodwill, and the lane from the car park is private. Keep to the path, leave gates as you find them and keep dogs on leads. The ridge is exposed and hard to follow in mist.
The free car park holds about 12 cars; when it is full, private car parks nearby charge £3 a day. The Mourne Rambler bus stops at Carrick Little only in July and August.
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.
Good to know
- Slieve Binnian (747 m) is the third-highest Mourne summit, its top a line of weathered granite tors.
- The Mourne Wall runs straight up the south ridge from the Annalong valley to the foot of the summit tor.
- North of the summit the ridge passes the Back Castles and the North Tor, wind-shaped blocks of granite, with the Silent Valley reservoirs below to the west.
- The return follows the Annalong valley past the Blue Lough, a small corrie lake under Slieve Lamagan.
Summits on the way
- Slieve Binnian 746 m · passed close by
- Slieve Binnian North Tor 682 m · passed close by
Getting there
Start: Carrick Little car park · Free parking. 54.12879, -5.94335
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Newry: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.