Pigeon Rock Mountain South Top

The walk up Pigeon Rock Mountain South Top rewards you with proper views across the Mourne range - clear enough on a decent day to spot the coast. It's a modest peak by serious hiking standards, but that's rather the point. You get the sense of achievement without needing to be a fell runner, and the path is straightforward enough that families with older kids won't struggle.

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip from Newry, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. There's no visitor centre or facilities up there, so bring water and something to eat. The best light is early morning or late afternoon - midday sun can flatten the whole experience into a bit of a trudge.

It works brilliantly as part of a wider Mourne Mountains exploration. Base yourself at one of the nearby parks - Oakwood glamping sits just 2 miles away, which beats driving back to town after a day's walking. Combine it with other peaks in the range if you're feeling ambitious, or use it as a gentler warm-up for more serious summits elsewhere.

Historically inclined visitors will appreciate that you're walking through country with genuine Ulster heritage, though the mountain itself is more about the walk than the story. Photographers should time a visit for when the light's working; mediocre weather turns this into a very ordinary trudge.