J2017 : The penultimate stretch of the climb to the summit of Slievemartin

Slievemartin

483m Elevation
177m Prominence
I Country
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Overview

Slievemartin above Rostrevor

Slievemartin overlooks Rostrevor and Carlingford Lough in the western Mournes. This is DoBIH hill 20283, recorded at 483 m with 177 m prominence. MountainViews and several walking guides use 485 m; that difference is retained explicitly rather than silently changing the imported DoBIH record.

Summit walk

Start and finish at the upper Cloghmore car park, reached through Kilbroney Park. Follow the pedestrian route past the Cloghmore stone, continue uphill and keep left of the stile towards the transmitter on reaching open ground. Visit the summit area, where a trig pillar is reported, then retrace the same walking path to the upper car park. DoBIH gives J201176 but does not identify the exact highest natural point or a precise summit feature.

Derek Flack’s 2021 guide supports this approach and a same-path return, but also offers alternative forest descents. Its totals have not been matched to this exact variant, so distance, ascent and duration are left unspecified. Plan the complete return for your own pace and conditions. Do not use the Mourne Wall or Brandy Pad itineraries as routes to this summit.

Landscape and name

The views take in Carlingford Lough and the Cooley Peninsula. MountainViews identifies sedimentary bedrock, while the geological field guide describes metasediments around Cloghmore. The conspicuous granite boulder was transported by ice; it does not establish a volcanic origin for the hill.

Sliabh Mártain means “Martin’s mountain”, although whether this refers to a forename or surname is uncertain. Rostrevor’s oakwoods preserve part of a landscape reduced by historic boatbuilding, and plantation forestry began in 1931.

Access and safety

Kilbroney Park is entered from Shore Road near Rostrevor. Check current vehicle charges, opening hours and forest-operation signs. The main/lower park has visitor information, café and toilet facilities; do not expect those facilities at the upper car park.

The ascent includes steep stretches. Watch for mountain bikes where trails cross, stay on walking paths, and prepare for exposed upper slopes and poor visibility. A public-transport journey requires planning to Rostrevor and a separately arranged approach to the upper start. No direct bus to that car park has been verified here.

Explore routes near Slievemartin

Public walks starting within 80 km of this hill. Nearby does not mean a route reaches the summit; check its map and access before setting out.

Silent Valley to Ben Crom Dam: Reservoir Road Walk, County Down

9.8 km 2h–2h 30m Easy

View route

Tollymore Forest Park: Mountain and Drinns Trail

14.2 km 4h 45m–7h 5m Hard

View route

Tollymore Forest Park: River Trail near Newcastle

5.2 km 1h 20m–1h 45m Moderate

View route

Newcastle, Co. Down (NI) with Men Walking & Talking

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches, not verified navigable routes or permission to cross land. Check current paths, local access rules and conditions before setting out.

Slievemartin from upper Cloghmore car park

Start and finish at the upper Cloghmore car park in Kilbroney Park, reached by the forest drive from the Shore Road entrance near Rostrevor. Take the signed walking path towards Cloghmore, visit the stone, then continue uphill on the pedestrian path. At the open ground, keep left of the stile towards the transmitter and climb to the summit area and trig pillar. Return by the same walking path past Cloghmore to the upper car park. The source offers more than one forest return, so its totals are not assigned to this same-path variant. Distance, ascent and duration for this exact return have not been verified. A start in Rostrevor or at the lower park adds further walking. Watch for bike-trail crossings and obey current forestry signs. The trig is a visible summit-area landmark; the DoBIH record does not identify the exact highest natural point.

Hard walk
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Marilyn 400-499m hill

Elevation

483m

1,585 ft

Prominence

177m

Coordinates

54.0936, -6.1651

J201176

OS Map

29 36

At the Summit

A trig pillar is reported in the summit area. DoBIH places the summit at J201176 but supplies no exact summit feature or high-precision point, so the pillar is not asserted to mark the highest natural ground.

Terrain & Geology

Forest walking paths and steeper grassy upper slopes with rocky sections around Cloghmore and an exposed summit area.

MountainViews records sedimentary bedrock including mudstone, greywacke and conglomerate. The geological field guide describes Silurian metasediments around Cloghmore, with the prominent granite boulder deposited by glacial ice. The boulder is not evidence that the whole hill is granite or a former volcano.

Views & Scenery

Views over Carlingford Lough, Rostrevor and the Cooley Peninsula, with surrounding Mourne hills visible in clear weather.

History & Heritage

Name Origin

Paul Tempan gives Sliabh Mártain as “Martin’s mountain”. Whether Martin is a personal name or surname remains uncertain.

Historical Significance

Rostrevor’s remaining oakwoods recall a much wider woodland landscape, much of which was cleared for boatbuilding in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Plantation forestry began in 1931. Cloghmore is a glacial erratic rather than evidence of a volcanic summit.

Getting There & Facilities

Check current local access restrictions, parking rules and transport timetables before travelling. These notes do not confirm public access to the summit.

Parking

Upper Cloghmore car park in Kilbroney Park, reached by the scenic forest drive from the Shore Road entrance near Rostrevor. Vehicle parking charges and seasonal park gates apply; check current signs. Lower-park or village starts add distance and ascent.

Public Transport

Plan travel to Rostrevor rather than Newcastle. No direct public transport to the upper Cloghmore car park was verified in the reviewed sources; check current services and arrange the additional approach and return. Village or lower-park walking approaches are additional to the described upper-car-park walk.

Nearby Facilities

The main/lower Kilbroney Park visitor area has a café, visitor information and toilets including accessible facilities. Check current opening. These facilities are not at the upper Cloghmore route start; Rostrevor has further services.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Steep ground and wet or icy paths require care; upper slopes are exposed to poor weather and visibility.
  • Mountain-bike trails cross the upper walking route. Use the designated walking paths and watch at crossings.
  • Forestry work can restrict access. Follow current signs, barriers and park-gate arrangements.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Slievemartin?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Slievemartin through the maps

Are there other walkers around Slievemartin?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Slievemartin search or of course create your own walk for Slievemartin

Can I organise a walk to Slievemartin?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

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How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Slievemartin?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

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The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

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Location

Slievemartin location map

Grid reference: J201176

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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Straight-line distance, not a walking route or confirmation of access.

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