Moolieve Mountain

The walk up Moolieve Mountain rewards you with one of those views that makes you stop talking mid-sentence. On a clear day, you can see across the Mourne Mountains properly - not just a postcard version, but the whole sprawl of ridges and valleys that make this corner of County Down feel properly wild. The mountain itself isn't huge by walking standards, but that's rather the point. It's accessible enough for families who fancy a bit of fresh air without needing mountaineering experience, yet steep enough in places to feel like you've actually earned the vista at the top.

Walkers will get the most from this. The path is well-trodden and the Mourne Mountains around Newry make for proper hiking territory if you're staying put for a few days. Annalong Holiday Park and Bloody Bridge Campsite sit within striking distance, so you could easily combine this with other peaks in the area - there's no shortage of hills to bag round here.

Allow a couple of hours return journey depending on fitness. There's no entrance fee and no visitor centre faffing about - just turn up and go. Early morning is best if you want the light right and the weather holding. The exposed sections can get breezy, so it's not ideal in a full gale, but autumn and spring tend to be cracking. Bring water and decent boots. The views make it worth the effort, genuinely.