Faughill Mountain

The walk up Faughill Mountain rewards you with views across the Mourne range and out towards Newry below - straightforward terrain and no scrambling required, which is genuinely rare around here. It's the sort of peak that takes a couple of hours return from the car park, making it ideal if you've got an afternoon free rather than a full day expedition.

Walkers will find this one proper accessible. The path is well-trodden and, while you're climbing, it never turns vicious. Families with older kids (say, secondary school age and up) will get through it without complaint, though younger ones might find the final push tedious. On a clear day the vista justifies the effort - you're looking at decent chunks of County Down spread below you, and the Mourne peaks create a dramatic backdrop.

There's no visitor centre or facilities at the summit itself, so bring water and something to eat. Free access, obviously. Go on a weekday morning if you can; weekends pull in a fair crowd, and the car park gets tight.

If you're staying at Hilltop Hideaway just down the road - that lovely pod setup with the hot tub - you've got this practically on your doorstep. Makes for a solid morning walk before settling in for the evening. Works well as part of a broader Mourne exploration rather than a standalone trip.