Slieve Meelmore from the Trassey Track

From the Trassey car park, go along Trassey Road to the start of the Trassey Track and follow it south up the valley, first between stone-walled fields and then over open hillside beside the Trassey River. Higher up, leave the track for a path that climbs south-west over rough ground to the col between Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Bearnagh, where the Mourne Wall crosses. From the col follow the Mourne Wall north up Slieve Meelmore to the stone shelter on the top, with the high Mournes spread out to the south. Return the same way.

It is 9.2 km there and back with 516 m of ascent; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: a long stony track, a path that climbs over rough ground to the col, and a steep climb over rough stone beside the wall to the top.

The Mourne Heritage Trust says the route has no signage and that a map (OS Sheet 29) is needed; the wall is a handrail on the higher ground, but a compass is needed in bad weather for the descent off Meelmore, and the top is often in cloud. walkni says access to the Trassey Track is only through the goodwill of the landowners, most of the land low down being private farmland or grazing: use the stile, keep the gate closed and keep dogs on leads.

The council car park on Trassey Road is tagged free in OpenStreetMap. Meelmore Lodge, near it, has a café, toilets and camping, and its car park is tagged as charged. The Visit Mourne, Gullion and Strangford page describes the Mourne Rambler bus as running in July and August, with a stop on Trassey Road for Hare's Gap; it names no bus at other times.

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.