Walking Forum
Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Ireland => Topic started by: henryb on 20:30:31, 03/06/18
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Having traversed the higher Mournes in recent weeks, I opted for a lower level walk this week-end despite decent weather. IMHO the best low level walk in the Mournes is the Silent Valley reservoir walk. Between Ben Crom reservoir, Lough Shannagh, Fofanny reservoir and Spelga reservoir, Silent Valley takes pride of place with its surround of impressive peaks, Binnian being the standout. This walk connects the two major stretches of water in the Mournes: Silent Valley and Ben Crom. There is an entrance fee of £4.50 for cars. Leaving the car park, the walk was linear beside the reservoir to Ben Crom reservoir. I walked on a minor road where a shuttle bus operated. For such a decent day I was surprised to encounter so few people. From the car park to Ben Crom reservoir was just over 4km where I had lunch. This is one of the few walks in the Mournes where the return walk is the reverse of the initial walk in. I decided to vary the ending by taking in the lower slopes of Slievenagore and traversing through Silent Valley woods. Total distance was nearly 11km.
Slievenaglogh from the start of the walk:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34274746_2081347408561014_8794469773678215168_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=cef1e39eb54c26b2139c818421b71636&oe=5BBDC0FE)
Walking beside the reservoir:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34214367_2081348125227609_6726792046876557312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=fbf98a89d931f969163b5e905545216e&oe=5BB10D7A)
Ben Crom, Bernagh and Doan:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34398081_2081348618560893_6878826905538134016_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=bcba6fb14a36da317b4f91240e7431ae&oe=5B81C2CF)
Ben Crom reservoir:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34268700_2081349228560832_2498895136264552448_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=f078f021eae2aad1a85af8308d613219&oe=5B7AAFC5)
Ben Crom climber:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34203655_2081349561894132_3397421282638168064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=efec1f7b54a232ad72f88f06935c4ba8&oe=5BB67B9C)
Silent Valley from Ben Crom reservoir:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34445956_2081349988560756_4667423904971620352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=7d21dfe9f475fa47d412932b9f31230d&oe=5BC3C738)
Doan:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34308762_2081350195227402_5929847451920891904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=6c3b34e60049c2b8f4a66c051fe0a093&oe=5BB8444E)
At the corner of the reservoir:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34344298_2081350548560700_2440327656546238464_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=efdf6bc051e01f1a29be2388041b1810&oe=5B7C49C5)
Muck, Slievenaglogh, Doan, Meelbeg:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34319852_2081350968560658_3008437807015264256_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=d02f3440f618aaf43d54b8508a20626d&oe=5BB6C46E)
Doan, Meelbeg, Slieveloughshannagh and Binnian:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34367926_2081351251893963_6454025975352000512_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=9acbb783453e18e4be7ea31e13b9bc96&oe=5B8035DD)
Silent Valley backed by Binnian, Slieveloughshannagh, Doan:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34266480_2081351545227267_6040057438017683456_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=1fd371aabe24f1f9d30d7be62946ee8d&oe=5BB925A4)
Zoom-in on Bernagh and Ben Crom:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34268684_2081354771893611_6092104255437537280_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=3255a7e2f1666f7cac9a1036008965b2&oe=5B792459)
Bernagh, Ben Crom, Slieve Binnian and Wee Binnian:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34341811_2081355678560187_24693618115608576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=fa75519f722c443d6800711670c3ba48&oe=5BB49158)
Slievenaglogh from Slievenagore's lower slopes:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34322986_2081356238560131_3123788241900142592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=0cb3e81e86d19269dcb9f52d035cfa38&oe=5B7776AC)
On the return path to the forests:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34287188_2081359968559758_4768771011304751104_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=8706173538f9248b5c9e9db1ba5227b2&oe=5BB434A4)
Woodland reflections:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34203639_2081360231893065_9048985249261813760_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=fbd7fd79f010dff191cdba94f2e2e784&oe=5B7D3554)
One of the small lakes, backed by Binnian:
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/34319907_2081360605226361_8471347959387127808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=5dba86132659466d60ba6c67440b8abf&oe=5BBBB8A0)