Slieve Beg

About Slieve Beg

Nestled in the heart of the Mournes, this rocky peak provides one of the range's most dramatic silhouettes. Characterised by the steep, dark gully of the Devil’s Coach Road on its eastern flank, it offers a rugged ascent and commanding views over the Annalong Valley and the jagged tors of Slieve Lamagan.

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Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Irish 'Sliabh Beag', meaning 'Small Mountain'. In the context of the Mournes, it sits in the shadow of its much larger neighbours, Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh, making the name a literal description of its relative stature.
• •The hill is famous among local hikers for the Devil's Coach Road, a notoriously steep and atmospheric gully filled with loose scree that cuts into the cliffs on the eastern side. It is often used as a challenging direct line for those looking to avoid the more traditional paths.
• •The summit is a fantastic vantage point for observing the Brandy Pad, a historic mountain track used by 18th and 19th-century smugglers to transport illicit goods like tobacco, silk, and spirits from the coast at Newcastle through the heart of the range.
• •From the top, you gain an exceptionally clear view across the deep glacial trough of the Annalong Valley toward the massive granite wall of Slieve Binnian and the shimmering waters of the Blue Lough.
• •Despite being named the 'Small Mountain', the steep, lung-bursting scramble required to reach the summit from the valley floor suggests the name was likely a piece of classic Irish understatement.