Lechan More

The walk up Lechan More rewards you with one of the best views across the Mourne Mountains - and it's nowhere near as punishing as some of the other peaks in the range. Starting from near Newry, you'll climb through moorland with the ridge gradually opening up views toward the Irish Sea. On a clear day, you can see right across to the coast; on a grey one, the mist rolls in thick enough to make you feel properly isolated.

It's a solid three-to-four-hour round trip depending on your pace and fitness. The terrain is boggy in places - waterproof boots are essential - but the path is reasonably well-defined. Families with older children (say, ten upwards) will manage it fine; younger kids will find it a slog without the payoff they're after.

Walkers staying at Kilbroney Caravan Park, just 2 miles away, practically have this on their doorstep. It's the kind of walk you'd pair with an easier afternoon stroll elsewhere - perhaps to one of the lower-level trails in the Mountains - rather than making it the full day's activity. The glamping options at Greenview and Oakwood are also within striking distance if you want a bit more comfort after a day in the hills.

There's no fee, no visitor centre, no facilities at the summit. Just you, the wind, and views that stretch for miles. That's rather the point.