Pigeon Rock South

About Pigeon Rock South

Rising above the White Water river in the western Mourne Mountains, this grassy hump offers a rugged, less-trodden character. The summit provides a focused perspective on the granite cliffs of Eagle Mountain and the deep trough of the Silent Valley, with the Irish Sea visible to the south on clear days.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is a translation of the Irish 'Carraig na gColm', referring to the rock doves that have historically nested in the steep granite crags found on the hill's eastern slopes.
• •This summit is frequently bagged as part of the 'Western Mournes' circuit, a quieter horseshoe that links Pigeon Rock with its neighbours, Slieve Muck and Eagle Mountain.
• •The eastern face of the hill is home to the Pigeon Rock crags, a popular destination for rock climbers featuring classic granite routes such as 'Pigeon Shoot' and 'The Gully'.
• •From the summit, walkers can look south across the mouth of Carlingford Lough to see the jagged silhouettes of the Cooley Mountains in the Republic of Ireland.
• •Despite its modest stature, the hill is classified as a Hump (a hill with a Hundred Metre Prominence), ensuring that it feels like a distinct and independent peak rather than a mere shoulder of its larger neighbours.
• •While the name suggests an avian-friendly stroll, the terrain is classic Mourne granite and heather, meaning you are far more likely to encounter a stray sheep than a flock of pigeons at the cairn.