Slieve Foye North-West Top

The walk up Slieve Foye's north-west top is a proper lung-burner, but the views across the Mourne Mountains make every gasping breath worthwhile. Starting from near Newry, you're looking at a steep climb through rough moorland - nothing technical, just relentless uphill on terrain that'll test your calves and your resolve in equal measure.

What you get at the summit is genuinely impressive: on a clear day, the vista sweeps across the Mourne range with Slieve Donard commanding the skyline. The landscape feels properly remote despite being accessible within an hour's drive of civilisation. You'll spot hikers tackling the full Mourne Wall loop, but far fewer people venture specifically to this north-west top, which means you might have the place to yourself.

Allow a solid two hours for the round trip if you're reasonably fit. Wear proper boots - the ground's boggy in places and ankle-turningly uneven. There's no café at the top, no visitor centre, no faffing about. Just mountain air and honest views.

For families, it's genuinely better suited to older kids who can handle proper walking without complaint. Younger ones will struggle with the climb and frankly won't see the appeal of standing on a windy peak. If you're camped at Kilbroney Caravan Park, it's practically on your doorstep - worth squeezing in before breakfast if the weather's decent.