Slieve Binnian

About Slieve Binnian

Dominating the skyline above the Silent Valley, this is arguably the Mournes' most impressive peak. Its long, serrated summit ridge is flanked by dramatic granite tors, including the Back Castles. The climb is rewarded with striking views across the reservoir to the high peaks of Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Sliabh Binneáin, meaning 'Mountain of the Little Peak' or 'Mountain of Pinnacles.' This refers to the dramatic granite tors that crown its broad summit ridge, a feature unique among the major Mourne peaks.
• •The famous Mourne Wall, a 22-mile dry stone boundary built between 1904 and 1922, traverses the summit. It was constructed to protect the water catchment area for the Silent Valley Reservoir, which lies directly to the west.
• •Deep beneath the mountain's granite bulk lies the Binnian Tunnel. Built in the late 1940s, this 2.5-mile engineering feat was hand-drilled to divert water from the Annalong River to the Silent Valley, with workers starting at opposite ends and meeting in the middle with incredible precision.
• •As a Hewitt and a Marilyn, Binnian is a significant peak for hill-baggers, though many visitors are more interested in the 'Back Castles'—a series of weathered rock formations that resemble ruined fortifications stretching north from the summit.
• •Given the sheer scale of the granite tors, many walkers spend more time debating which pile of rocks is the actual summit than they do actually climbing the mountain.