Shanlieve

Tucked away in the quieter Western Mournes, this broad, peat-covered Hewitt offers a more rugged experience than the central granite peaks. Often paired with its loftier neighbour, Eagle Mountain, its expansive summit provides a wild sense of isolation and far-reaching views across Carlingford Lough to the Cooley Mountains beyond.

• •The name is derived from the Irish 'Sean-shliabh', meaning 'Old Mountain'. This likely refers to its rounded, weathered profile, which lacks the dramatic granite tors found in the younger Eastern Mournes.
• •The ascent typically involves following or crossing the Batts Wall, a dry stone boundary built for the Earl of Kilmorey that serves as a smaller, western counterpart to the more famous Mourne Wall.
• •The summit offers a specific, elevated perspective of the Silent Valley reservoir to the east, framed by the silhouettes of Slieve Binnian and Ben Crom.
• •The terrain is notorious among local walkers for its 'Mourne bog'—a challenging mix of deep peat hags and thick heather that makes progress significantly slower than the height might suggest.
• •It is a mountain that teaches patience; if you haven't lost a boot to a peat hag or spent ten minutes debating which specific tussock constitutes the true summit, you haven't truly experienced Shanlieve.