Butter Mountain

Situated in the quieter western reaches of the Mournes, this heathery Hump offers a softer profile than its craggy neighbours. The ascent across peat and grass is rewarded with an intimate perspective of the Spelga Dam reservoir and the massive northern slopes of Slieve Muck directly across the valley.

• •Its name is a translation of the Irish Sliabh an Ime, likely signifying the high-quality summer grazing found on these slopes during the tradition of 'boolying', where cattle were moved to higher ground for butter production.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point for viewing the 'floating' appearance of the Spelga Dam, an engineering feat from the 1950s that sits nestled in the valley below.
• •While most hikers stick to the well-worn Ott Track to reach the more famous summits, this hill offers a much lonelier experience on the western side of the Mourne Way.
• •On clear days, the view extends past the nearby granite peaks toward the Irish Sea and the distant profile of the Cooley Mountains in County Louth.
• •The name suggests a richness that the terrain doesn't always provide; while the grazing was once prized, modern visitors are more likely to find themselves negotiating thick peat hags than discovering any hidden dairy products.