Finlieve

About Finlieve

Sitting in the quieter western Mournes, this broad, peat-clad summit offers a rugged alternative to the busier eastern peaks. The terrain is often damp and demanding, but it rewards walkers with an expansive sense of isolation and a unique perspective over the deep waters of the Silent Valley reservoir.

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Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Irish 'Fionn Shliabh', which translates to 'White Mountain' or 'Fair Mountain', likely a reference to the way sunlight catches the pale grasses or how snow lingers on its broad, flat profile.
• •The summit serves as a fantastic vantage point for surveying the engineering scale of the Silent Valley; from here, you can see the reservoir tucked neatly between the slopes of Slieve Binnian and the Ben Crom peaks.
• •It is frequently bagged as part of a high-level loop starting from the OTT car park, connecting with the neighbouring summits of Slieve Muck and Carn Mountain.
• •While the granite tors of the High Mournes get the fame, this western ridge is composed of older Silurian rocks, leading to the softer, grassier, and significantly boggier underfoot conditions found here.
• •The stretch of ground between here and Carn Mountain is a connoisseur’s choice for testing the integrity of Gore-Tex liners and the patience of anyone who dislikes the sound of a well-placed squelch.