START YOUR MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES FROM KRIBBEN COTTAGES

Step out of Kribben Cottages and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Mourne Mountains. We’ve chosen our top 5 mountain walking routes, which can be easily accessed on foot from Kribben Cottage during your stay.

Whether you want a get-together with a group of friends, a romantic break for two, or you’re in need of a family getaway, Kribben Cottages are nestled in the heart of the Mournes, the ideal location to start your mountain adventures, capture those all-important memories and take in breath-taking views from sea to summit.  Please remember to be fully prepared to face all four seasons when walking in the Mourne’s and wear the correct footwear to support you in the Mournes.

1. Seefin

Level: Easy | Distance: Approx 2.5 miles | Suggested Footwear: Trainers with a little grip

Soak in the views from the summit of Seefin, one of our smallest mountains in the Mournes and the closest to Kribben Cottages. Whether you choose our ‘out and back route’ or our  circular ‘Seefin Loop’ reaching Seefin’s summit is suitable for the whole family to enjoy and a great introduction to hill walking.

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2. Rocky 

Level: Moderate | Distance: Approx 5.5 miles | Suggested Footwear: Hiking Shoes

A frim favourite with the locals, our Rocky route offers panoramic views of the Mournes including Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak, the Brandy Pad, where smuggled goods were transported on pack ponies in centuries gone by and the ever-popular Slieve Binnian. If you enjoyed your trek onto the summit of Seefin and you’re feeling energetic, you’ll be blown away by the views on Rocky, we can assure you (on a clear day) it’s definitely worth the additional miles.

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3. The Blue Lough

Level: Easy-Moderate | Distance: Approx 7.5 miles | Suggested Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes

Wander from Kribben Cottages and along the Carricklittle lane to the Blue Lough, where rumour has it, the remains of a fighter plane from the Second World War lie beneath it’s calm and gleaming surface. Of course as rumours go, this has never been proven but we do love a good story! A hot spot for picnics and the perfect location to relax and enjoy some sunny weather, the Blue Lough has become a firm favourite amongst locals and tourists alike. Situated in the heart of the Annalong Valley, the Blue Lough draws quite the crowds in the summer months and whilst there are no mountains to ascend on this route, you can marvel at their grandeur as they tower above you on your walk through the valley.

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4. Slieve Binnian

Level: Moderate | Distance: Approx 7 miles | Suggested Footwear: Hiking shoes with good grip

Easily accessible and with multiple route options, Slieve Binnian has become increasingly popular over the years. Standing at 747m, it holds the title of the third highest peak in Mourne and therefore a mountain worth ticking off your bucket list, not to mention the beautiful views across the Mourne Countryside and into the Silent Valley that can be admired. If you’re an early bird and the weather is in your favour, we recommend setting your alarm to reach the summit for sunset, we promise it’s worth getting up for!

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5. Binnian Loop

Level: Moderate-Hard | Distance: Approx 9.5 miles | Suggested Footwear: Hiking shoes with good grip

If you fancy a longer walk, a more gradual climb and even more incredible views, you will love our ‘Back of Binnian Loop’, which takes you on an adventure past the Blue Lough and provides stunning aerial views of the Ben Crom Reservoir before summiting Binnian from a North Westerly direction. While the climb is gradual in comparison with the direct ascent up Binnian by the wall, this loop is longer, covers rougher ground and requires a little bit of scrambling and a head for heights.

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For more information on booking accommodation at Kribben Cottages, or walks in the local area, please email us on stay@kribbencottages.com or 07724727283 and we’ll be happy to help.

Directions for Binnian Loop

• Starting from Kribben Cottages, make your way to Carricklittle Lane and follow our directions to Blue Lough.

• Once you get to the Blue Lough, continue along the path and follow the stony trail which will take you slightly uphill before you arrive at a natural crossroads between Slieve Binnian on your left and Slieve Lamaghan on your right.

• Take the path to the left and make your way up the man made steps. You should be able to see a narrow but distinct walking path etched on the mountain.

• Follow the path until you come to a slight rocky area, don’t be alarmed, it’s not as difficult as it first looks. You will notice obvious footholds and you will need to push and pull yourself up onto the rocks to negotiate this small section. This is the most technical aspect of this walking loop.

• Once you negotiate the rocky patch, you will be glad to see a very obvious path gradually ascending uphill through mountainous ground. Take a moment to enjoy the stunning views of Ben Crom Reservoir and the surrounding Annalong Valley.

• Continue to follow the path until it turns into a narrow single track amongst the grass. Veer slightly uphill to the right where you will see a large and obvious hole in the stone ditch. Cross the stone ditch and follow the path up and onto Binnian.

• Once you have admired the views, caught your breath and re-fuelled, it’s time to carefully descent Binnian by the wall back to the Carricklittle Lane. We highly recommend a visit to the Carricklittle Café located halfway along the Carricklittle Lane where you can re-fuel with hot drinks and fresh home baked produce before your final jaunt back to Kribben Cottages.

*Notes: Many hiking groups use walking poles on longer outings to help individuals over rougher ground. The route can be unclear in places and a little tricky to negotiate, so if you’re new to mountain walking or new to the area we highly recommend that you don’t go alone and you carry a map.  

Directions for Slieve Binnian

• This adventure requires you to make your way from Kribben Cottages to the Carricklittle Lane. There are numerous car parks available here if you don’t want to walk the road – car parks charge £3 for the day.  

• At the top of the lane and through the gate, you’ll walk approximately one quarter of a mile before you see a distinct path on your left, just off the Mourne wall, directing you uphill.

• Once you’re on the path, allow the Mourne wall act as your guide and continue to follow it to the top of the mountain. The path does not run directly beside the wall, but you will always be able to see the wall running parallel with you as you follow the trail on your climb towards the summit.

• There are a number of ways to get onto the actual summit, but near the top, you will come to a stile and you will very clearly see that your climb is coming to an end. When you reach the stile, we recommend slightly veering right, off the wall and making your way between the gap (or V shape) in the large rock formations in front of you. Here you will have a beautiful view of the Silent Valley Reservoir before continuing to walk up around the corner, where you will reach the very summit.

*Notes: Take a picnic and enjoy a well-deserved break at the top. While most fit and healthy individuals are more than capable of ascending Binnian, it is a tough climb and may take up to 1 hour to reach the summit from Annalong Wood.  On wet days, the descent back down can be quite slippery, a good grippy pair of shoes or hiking boots will definitely make your adventure more enjoyable.

Directions for Blue Lough

• Leave Kribben Cottages and turn right onto the Quarter Road. At the top, follow it round to the left and walk along the Head Road for one mile until you reach the Carricklittle Car Park at the bottom of Carricklittle Lane (also known as the Oldtown Road). There are numerous car parks available here if you don’t want to walk the road – car parks charge £3 for the day.

• Make your way up the Carricklittle lane (0.5 miles) until you reach a black gate and the entry to the picturesque Annalong Valley.

• Through the gate, you’ll follow the wide path as far as the eye can see, through the line of trees, known as the Annalong Wood until you reach a river crossing.

• Once safely cross the river, the path begins to fork in two, continue on the path to the left until you reach the Blue Lough which will be located on your right hand side.

*Notes: The ground can be quite rough in places, and while the walk is very straight forward, we do recommend a good pair of sturdy walking shoes. On a hot day people have been known to take a dip in the water, but it is extremely cold and very deep in places so you must be very careful if you make the decision to enter the water. Never ever go in alone and always stay within your depth.

Directions for Rocky Mountain 

• From the summit of Seefin, (*see directions for Seefin) follow the Mourne wall along Long Seefin until you arrive at a lopsided wooden stile. Carefully cross the stile to the other side of the wall and continue in the same direction.

• As you make your way along the wall you will see another stile in the distance. When you reach this stile you will see Rocky rising up on your left. Don’t climb the stile but instead use it as a marker and when you reach it, start veering left (off the wall) to start your ascent up Rocky.

• There is no distinct path up to the summit of Rocky, however you may find traces of narrow trails left by local walkers. The only way is up and you’ll know you’re at the summit, when you reach the cairn (a small tower of stones) at the top of the mountain.

• When you’ve soaked in the panoramic views and it’s time for home, carefully make your way down in the direction in which you came. If you become confused, stop and take a moment to locate the wall you followed from Seefin. The wall acts like a handrail and will guide you home.

*Notes: Rocky is a small mountain and should take no more than 30-40 minutes to climb from the final stile to the summit. Be careful of holes on the way up and take extra care on your route back. During wet weather, the mountain can become quite saturated and you can expect to get your feet wet. Make sure you have a nice pair of dry shoes and socks waiting at Kribben Cottages on your return!

Directions for Seefin

• Leaving Kribben Cottages, take a right turn and make your way to the top of the Quarter Road. Hidden in the right hand corner, you’ll find a short farm track.

• At the end of the track you’ll discover steps on your left, leading you onto a narrow uphill path. The path runs alongside lush grassy fields, which are usually occupied by local livestock. Keep to the path and you’ll come to a wooden stile.

• Carefully cross the stile and take an immediate left, following a well-trodden trail, which will lead you up a short, steep hill just below the summit.

• At the top of the hill, you will arrive at another stile, however this time, don’t be tempted to cross this one. Instead, carefully step over the wire fence to the right hand side of the stile and walk a few steps around the corner where you will see a natural path through the stones (up to the left) leading you up onto the summit of Seefin.

***If you’re feeling adventurous you can follow the Mourne wall, which travels along the connecting mountain named ‘Long Seefin’ all the way to Rocky. (*See our walking guidelines on the ‘Rocky Route’ below)

• When you finally pull yourself away from the summit and the scenic views, you have two choices for your route home. If you choose our ‘out and back’ route, you’ll simply go home the way you came. If you prefer a circular route you can continue walking along ‘Long Seefin’ until you get to a lopsided stile.

• Walk to the stile, cross it and follow the wall on your left, which will take you downhill towards the forestry and Hamilton’s Lane. Continue following this wall downhill until you reach one last stile and a narrow sheep pen.

• Cross the stile and take a left. You’ll come across a heavy iron gate. Pass through the gate and you are now officially on Hamilton’s Lane and a short jaunt from home. Please make sure you close the gate behind you and walk down Hamilton’s Lane, which will lead you to the Head Road and back to the start of your walk and your cosy Kribben cottage!

Nestled in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, Kribben Cottages are situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, offering countless walks and adventures for you and your family to enjoy during your stay. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite family walks within a short drive of Kribben, which means you can enjoy everything Mourne has to offer, helping you make as many memories as possible, without wasting any precious vacation time.

With so many choices for wonderful walks and scenic strolls, the easy part of your stay will be settling in and enjoying our cosy accommodation, the hard part, will be deciding what to do and where to go first! With that in mind, we recommend putting the kettle on, treating yourself to a cuppa and taking a moment to read the information below to discover some of our favourite family walks in the local area and help you plan your stay.

Annalong Harbour Walk

Distance: Approx: 10k | Transport: Walk from Kribben Cottages

With views from sea to summit, it’s almost impossible to visit Kribben Cottages without a visit to Annalong Harbour and a venture round the village and its rugged coastline. A small tidal harbour used by local fishing boats, Annalong Harbour has historically been the heart of the community in Annalong. The picturesque fishing village is only a short walk from Kribben Cottages, with stunning coastal and mountainous scenery it offers itself as an idyllic and peaceful haven. One of the best ways to explore Annalong and the scenic views it offers is to explore our Harbour Walk.

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Forest Parks

• Silent Valley | Distance from Kribben: (3.3 miles)

• Kilbroney Forest Park | Distance from Kribben: (8 miles)

• Tollymore Forest Park | Distance from Kribben: (10 miles)

• Castlewellan Forest Park | Distance from Kribben: (13 miles)

With so many fantastic forest parks and wonderful nature walks on offer we couldn’t pick just one! So we’ve compiled a rough guide on four of the forest parks nearby and what’s on offer for you and your family

Click Here for more information on the forest parks

Ben Crom Reservoir

Distance: Approx: 10km | Transport: A short drive from Kribben Cottages (3.3 miles)

A firm favourite with locals and tourists alike, the walk along the tarmac road in the Silent Valley to the magnificent Ben Crom Dam is one not to be missed. Only a short drive from the entrance of Kribben Cottages, the walk to the ‘top dam’ as it’s known locally, allows you to walk amongst the grandeur of the mountains and marvel at their sheer height and scale without the difficulty of climbing them. Mountains such as Slieve Binnian and Slievenaglough shelter you on either side as you walk along the flat and winding tarmac path and you have the option of walking the steps onto the breast of the dam wall to overlook the reservoir and admire the panoramic views of the valley.

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Knockcree Mountain

Distance: Approx 4 miles | Transport: A short drive from Kribben Cottages (2.6 miles)

Sitting at 306m, Knockcree is an isolated hill offering beautiful views from the fishing and farming community of Kilkeel and as far as Cranfield Point, Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Mountains. The walk itself is easily accessible from the top of Ballymageogh Road just outside Kilkeel or from the village of Attical if you’ve ventured from the Head Road in Annalong. A gradual climb with wide trail paths, it may not be a mountain in the official sense but when little feet manage to get to the top they feel like they’ve climbed the tallest mountain in the world! So, what are you waiting for… pack a picnic, grab the family and head for this very little but scenic hilltop.

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Cranfield/Greencastle Beach

Distance: Approx 4 miles | Transport: A 20-minute drive from Kribben Cottages (11 miles)

The fifth and final recommendation for family walks near Kribben Cottages would have to include a dander along Cranfield and Greencastle Beach. Gather you family and go to the beach where you’ll stretch those legs across miles of stunning coastline from Cranfield all the way to Greencastle Pier and back again.

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For more information on booking accommodation at Kribben Cottages, or walks in the local area, please email us on stay@kribbencottages.com and we’ll be happy to help.

1. From Kribben cottages, drive to Kilkeel and remain on the main road which leaves the town towards the coast. Keep driving until you reach Shanlieve Caravan Park and the entrance onto the beach.

2. Once you find a parking space, venture onto the beach and turn right. Continue to follow the coastline as it sweeps right around the corner and ushers you to Greencastle Pier and the ferry terminal for the Carlingford Lough. Keep an eye out for Finn the resident Dolphin or some of the friendly seals that keep the ferry crew company throughout the day.

3. Once you’ve covered enough miles and it’s time to go home, you simply follow the coastline back to where you began, taking in the beauty of Carlingford Lough, the Cooley Mountains, and the Haulbowline Lighthouse.

*Note: During peak summer season there will be a number of amenities along the beach which are open to the general public including toilets, shower and changing facilities, a life guard station, a children’s play area and numerous food and drink vendors. If you would prefer to park in a central position on the beach, instead of parking at Shanslieve Caravan park, you can follow the signs from Kilkeel to Cranfield Caravan Park where there is a public car park on offer free of charge, as well as a small shop, restaurant and take away.