The Ravens Rock [Split Rock]

About The Ravens Rock [Split Rock]

Rising sharply above Carlingford, this rugged Tump is a distinctive feature of the Cooley Mountains. Known locally as the Split Rock due to its fractured summit crags, it offers an exceptional vantage point over the dark waters of Carlingford Lough and the granite silhouettes of the Mourne Mountains to the north.

Key Statistics

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Split Rock' is a literal description of the summit, where a deep, natural fissure cuts through the volcanic gabbro, creating a distinctive geological landmark.
• •From the 456-metre top, walkers look directly across the lough to the Mourne Mountains in County Down, with the jagged peaks of Slieve Binnian and Slieve Donard clearly visible on a fine day.
• •The hill is located within the setting of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), an ancient Irish epic; the surrounding slopes are steeped in the folklore of the hero Cú Chulainn and the Brown Bull of Cooley.
• •It is frequently visited as part of a traverse from the village of Carlingford, often linked with the nearby higher summit of Slieve Foye or the ancient ridge of Barnavave.
• •The 'Ravens' of the title are notably more elusive than the rock's fracture; while the birds are present in the range, the split in the stone is the one feature that never flies away when approached.