Saint Anne, Mullaghbuoy

The small church of Saint Anne sits quietly on the slopes above Newry, one of those places you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it. It's a modest stone structure, nothing grand, but there's something about its isolation that makes it worth the detour if you're exploring the Mourne foothills.

What draws people here is partly the setting itself. You're looking out across rolling country towards the mountains, and on a clear day it feels properly remote despite being just outside town. The church itself dates back centuries, though don't expect elaborate decoration inside - it's straightforward and functional, which somehow suits the landscape better than anything ornate would.

Walkers get the most from this one. If you're based at Kilbroney or Chestnutt holiday parks nearby, it makes a decent half-day leg-stretcher rather than a sit-down attraction. The walk up rewards you with decent views, and you can loop through the local lanes without needing a map. It's not a place to spend hours, but it's the sort of stop that makes sense when you're exploring the area properly rather than just ticking boxes.

Go in good weather - grey drizzle rather undermines the appeal, and there's not much shelter if the weather turns. Late afternoon light works nicely here, casting the hills in that soft gold that makes everywhere look better than it probably deserves.