Slievegarran

The walk up Slievegarran is a proper leg-burner, but the payoff from the summit is genuinely worth the effort. You're looking at sweeping views across County Down and into the Mourne Mountains - on a clear day, the sight lines stretch for miles. It's not a massive peak at around 1,600 feet, but the terrain is steep enough that you'll feel like you've earned it by the top.

This one suits walkers who don't need hand-holding but want something achievable in a morning. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the summit. There's no visitor centre or facilities - bring water, proper footwear, and check the weather forecast because the exposed ridge can get squally fast.

Castlewellan, the nearest town, is only a few miles off, which makes Slievegarran a natural add-on if you're camping locally. Several campsites cluster nearby - Slieve Croob Camping is barely a mile away, and Tollymore Campsite sits less than seven miles off if you're after something more established. The Mourne area is walker heaven, so combining this peak with nearby forest trails at Tollymore Forest Park or other local routes gives you a proper week's worth of hiking without repeating yourself.

Best visited in the drier months from May through September. Winter brings mud and visibility issues that can spoil the whole experience.