Clonvaraghan Mountain

Standing at 370 metres above sea level, Clonvaraghan Mountain forms part of the rolling hills that surround Castlewellan in County Down. The summit offers sweeping views across the Mourne countryside and down towards Strangford Lough on clear days.

Serious walkers will find the ascent moderately challenging - it's not a gentle Sunday stroll but won't require mountaineering skills either. The reward comes at the top where you can see for miles across farmland and forest. On a good day, you might even spot the distinctive outline of the Mourne Mountains proper to the south.

Families with older children who enjoy proper walking will get the most from this one. It's not suitable for pushchairs or very young kids - the terrain gets rough in places and there's no marked path for much of the route. Allow three to four hours for the round trip from Castlewellan.

What makes Clonvaraghan particularly appealing is its relative anonymity compared to the more famous Mournes. You're unlikely to encounter crowds, even on weekends. The mountain works well as part of a longer stay at one of the nearby glamping sites like Pine Tree Hollow or Escape Glamping, both under three miles away. After a day's hiking, those forest spa facilities at Enniskeen Estate start looking rather tempting.