Mourne Mountains Walking Holiday — 5 Days
The Mournes from Rostrevor to Newcastle
The Mourne Mountains without the Cooley Peninsula preamble. This five-day tour drops you straight into the heart of the Mournes — beginning in Rostrevor, the Victorian estate village nestled between the mountains and the southern shore of Carlingford Lough, and finishing in Newcastle under the watchful peak of Slieve Donard.
A dedicated looped walk in Kilbroney Forest gives you the full measure of the Mournes' character before you commit to the Mourne Way: ancient oak woodland, the Cloghmore Boulder (a glacial erratic with remarkable views), and the quieter, wilder side of a landscape that inspired C.S. Lewis's Narnia. Then two days on the Mourne Way itself — through forest, open moorland, past the famous Mourne Wall, and into Newcastle via the extraordinary Tollymore Forest Park.
This is the Mourne Mountains as they deserve to be experienced: unhurried, immersive, and with proper time for the landscape to sink in.
Highlights
Kilbroney Forest Looped Walk
A dedicated day exploring Kilbroney Forest above Rostrevor — ancient woodland, the Cloghmore Boulder with its panoramic views, and the quieter, wilder character of the southern Mournes.
The Mourne Wall
One of Ireland's great engineering feats: a dry stone wall that runs for 35 km over 15 mountain summits, built between 1904 and 1922 to enclose the Silent Valley water catchment. Walking alongside it is an unforgettable experience.
Tollymore Forest Park
One of Northern Ireland's most beautiful forests, with ancient woodland, elegant stone bridges over the Shimna River, and a now-famous role as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
Newcastle & Slieve Donard
Finish in the seaside town of Newcastle, sitting in the shadow of Slieve Donard (853m) — Northern Ireland's highest peak. The walk in from Tollymore, with the mountain growing larger with every step, is a genuinely satisfying finish.
Who Is This For?
This tour suits walkers who want a focused mountain experience in the Mournes without the additional Cooley Peninsula stages. You should be comfortable walking 14–18 km per day over varied terrain — forest paths, open moorland, and some hilly ground on the Kilbroney and Mourne Wall stages. The walking is moderate throughout: the Mourne Way is well-marked and the gradients are gentler than the Cooley ridgeline. A good choice for walkers returning to multi-day hiking, those with a specific interest in the Mournes, or anyone who prefers to fly into Belfast rather than Dublin.
Tour Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival in Rostrevor
expand_more
Arrival in Rostrevor
Arrive in Rostrevor, a picture-postcard Victorian village nestled between the Mourne foothills and the southern shore of Carlingford Lough. Your pre-departure pack includes public transport options from Dublin and Belfast — the village is accessible from both cities via Newry. Settle into your B&B, take an evening stroll along the lough shore, and find a good spot for dinner before the walking begins.
Day
2
Kilbroney Forest Looped Walk
expand_more
Kilbroney Forest Looped Walk
A full day exploring Kilbroney Forest above Rostrevor — one of the finest forest walks in Northern Ireland. The route climbs through ancient oak woodland to the Cloghmore Boulder, a massive glacial erratic perched on the hillside with sweeping views over Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Peninsula across the water. The descent back through the forest is gentler, passing through some of the most atmospheric woodland in the Mournes.
Day
3
Mourne Way Part 1 — Rostrevor towards the Mountains
expand_more
Mourne Way Part 1 — Rostrevor towards the Mountains
Your first day on the Mourne Way proper. The trail leads inland from Rostrevor and into the heart of the Mournes — open moorland, the first glimpses of the famous Mourne Wall, and the growing sense of a genuine mountain landscape. The day ends in or near the Mourne foothills with the best still to come.
Day
4
Mourne Way Part 2 — through Tollymore to Newcastle
expand_more
Mourne Way Part 2 — through Tollymore to Newcastle
The highlight of the tour. The Mourne Way passes through Tollymore Forest Park — ancient woodland, elegant stone bridges over the Shimna River, and the distinctive atmosphere of a landscape that has been used as a filming location for Game of Thrones. The trail emerges in Newcastle as Slieve Donard rises above the town, a fitting finale to four days in the Mournes.
Day
5
Departure from Newcastle
expand_more
Departure from Newcastle
A final Irish breakfast with the Mournes at your back. Your pre-departure pack includes public transport options to Dublin Airport (via Newry, approximately 2.5 hours) and Belfast Airport (approximately 1.5 hours). We can arrange private transfers if preferred.
Route & Map
Accommodation
- Accommodation: 4 nights in en-suite B&B rooms - Breakfast: Full Irish breakfast every morning - Luggage Transfer: Daily door-to-door transfer of your main bag - Maps & Navigation: Detailed route notes, GPX files, and a waterproof map case - Pre-Departure Travel Pack: Sent 4 weeks before you travel, including onward travel options from Newcastle - Support: 24/7 emergency support line for the duration of your trip
What's Included
check_circle What's Included
- doneAccommodation: 4 nights in en-suite B&B rooms
- doneBreakfast: Full Irish breakfast every morning
- doneLuggage Transfer: Daily door-to-door transfer of your main bag
- doneMaps & Navigation: Detailed route notes, GPX files, and a waterproof map case
- donePre-Departure Travel Pack: Sent 4 weeks before you travel, including onward travel options from Newcastle
- doneSupport: 24/7 emergency support line for the duration of your trip
block Not Included
- closeFlights: Travel to Ireland is not included
- closeAirport Transfers: Travel options from Newcastle are outlined in your pre-departure pack
- closeInsurance: You will need travel and walking holiday insurance
- closeMeals: Lunches and dinners (we'll happily recommend pubs and restaurants en route)
- closePersonal Gear: Hiking equipment and clothing
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Visit
May and June are our top picks. Long evenings, wildflowers on the Cooley foothills and manageable trail traffic make these months hard to beat. June and early July offer the longest daylight hours, which matter for the longer Mourne Ridge days.
September is arguably the finest month of all. Bracken turns gold, the light is sharp and clear, trails are quieter, and accommodation is easier to book.
July and August are the warmest months but the busiest. Slieve Donard sees significant foot traffic, and accommodation needs to be booked well in advance.
The walking season runs from late spring through to late autumn, typically April to October.
Time your visit with a festival. Many trails host walking festivals throughout the season — see our complete 2026 walking festivals calendar to plan around one.
From
Based on 2 sharing
Book at least 20 days in advance
Price Match Promise
Found this holiday cheaper? Send us the URL and we'll match the itinerary, services, and price.
Cliff & Louise
Your Personal Hosts
Have a question about this tour? We've walked it dozens of times and love helping you plan your trip.
Chat on WhatsAppSimilar Walks You'll Love
Similar difficulty and nearby destinations
Cooley & Mournes Walking Tour — 6 Days
The best of Cooley and the Mournes in six days
Ireland's Ancient East
Mourne Mountains Walking Holiday — 6 Days
The Mournes from Rostrevor to Newcastle with an Extra Day to Explore
Ireland's Ancient East
Cooley & Mournes Walking Tour — 7 Days
The complete Cooley to Mournes experience
Ireland's Ancient East
Cooley & Mournes Hiking Tour
Ancient myths, granite peaks and a border crossed on foot
Ireland's Ancient East
