Slieve Gullion from the forest park

From the Courtyard car park in Slieve Gullion Forest Park, forest paths and tracks lead round the southern side of the mountain and climb to the summit at 576 m, with the South Cairn passage tomb and the small lough on the plateau. The way down leaves the plateau to the north-west and swings east along a track and a forest path back to the Courtyard.

It is 7.0 km round with 448 m of ascent; allow about 3¼ hours. The grade is Moderate: two thirds on paths and the rest on forest tracks and a little road, with a steep climb at the start and the finish of the mountain path, as the council warns. Waymarkers can be absent on the summit plateau and the top is often in cloud, so carry a map and compass.

The chamber of the South Cairn passage tomb on the summit is closed until further notice for essential maintenance (Newry, Mourne and Down District Council); the summit and the lough are open. The forest is worked, so paths can be diverted.

The council charges for vehicles at Slieve Gullion, one of its four main parks, at the manned car park office (9am to 5pm daily); there is no charge on foot or by bicycle. The park is open 9am to 6pm in March and October, to 8pm in April and September, 9pm from May to August and 5pm from November to February.

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.