Slievenamiskan

The walk up Slievenamiskan rewards you with views across the Mourne Mountains that justify the slog. It's not the highest peak around - that honour goes to Slieve Donard - but it's considerably quieter, which counts for something when you're after a proper mountain experience without the crowds.

The climb itself is straightforward if a touch boggy underfoot, depending on rainfall. Allow two to three hours for the round trip from the car park, and wear decent boots. The summit sits at around 700 metres, high enough to feel like you've earned your packed lunch but not so demanding that reasonably fit walkers will struggle. On a clear day you can see right across to the coast; murky weather up here is another story entirely.

It suits hillwalkers and families with older kids who don't mind a proper trek. Younger children might find the bog sections tedious. The mountain is free to access, though you'll need to sort your own parking and navigation.

If you're staying at one of the local glamping spots - Greenview and Oakwood are both excellent and very close - this makes an ideal half-day outing. It pairs well with exploring the wider Mourne range, or you could treat it as a standalone walk from Newry. The landscape here feels wilder and less manicured than much of the North, which is precisely why people come back.