Spelga

Spelga Dam sits at 340 metres up in the Mourne Mountains, and the drive alone is worth doing - you'll wind through proper moorland before parking near the water. It's a straightforward walk from the car park to the dam itself, maybe twenty minutes depending on fitness, and the views back down towards Newry are genuinely decent on a clear day. The dam's functional rather than grand - a concrete structure built in 1957 - but that's rather the point. This is hillwalking territory, not sightseeing.

The real draw is the landscape. You're surrounded by bare mountains, windswept and honest, with a reservoir that catches the light beautifully in late afternoon. It's the kind of place that rewards early starts and decent boots. If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Greenview or Oakwood both sit within striking distance - this makes an excellent morning expedition before heading down to Tollymore Forest Park later in the day.

Don't expect crowds or facilities. There's a car park, that's it. Go for the walk and the air rather than the dam itself. Families with older kids will enjoy it; toddlers will get bored within the hour. Allow two to three hours if you're making a proper morning of it, though the walk itself is only thirty minutes each way. Weather changes fast up here, so check conditions and bring waterproofs even if skies look clear. Free to visit, naturally - you're on a mountain.