We celebrated St Patricks Day with a hike in the beautiful Mourne Mountains situated in County Down overlooking the seaside town of Newcastle. Our hike started at Meelmore Lodge and after a short climb we arrived at the Hares Gap which marks the exit point of the infamous Brandy Pad an ancient smugglers route which served as popular track to evade the revenue in the transport of illicit goods such as spice coffee silk and of course Brandy. We then followed the Mourne Wall to the summits of Slievenaglogh, Slieve Corragh, Slieve Commedagh and finally to Slieve Donard the highest peak in Ulster. The return route followed along the Brandy Pad to the Hares Gap and back to our starting point at Meelmore Lodge.
The Mourne Mountains