Above: Slieve Binnian as seen from Doan.
| Elevation 747m / 2451ft Slieve Binnian is the third highest peak in the Mournes, and definitely one of my favorite walks. It is possible to walk a circular route, starting at Carrick little car park (shown below in red). As far as I can tell, most people walk this route in a clockwise direction. I, however, prefer to walk in an anticlockwise direction. I find this provides more time to allow my legs to properly warm up before reaching the steeper slopes of Binnian itself, making the walk more enjoyable. The route follows a lane from the car park up to the black gate. Be sure to always close the gate when you pass through as there is often sheep and / or horses inside. A rough track then runs alongside Annalong wood before ascending up past Blue Lough and then on up to the saddle between Slieve Binnian and Slieve Lamagan. At this point the path is followed left onto Binnian itself. The route gets steeper as it makes its way up to the North Tor. There are a few nice places to stop on the way up and take in the view looking down onto Ben Crom reservoir. From the North Tor the path is followed across the top of the mountain and up to the Summit Tor. From there, the Mourne wall can be followed back down toward the black gate to complete the circle. |
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 Slieve Binnian circular route from Carrick little car park. |
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| A tunnel, completed in 1951, runs under Slieve Binnian and carries water from the Analong river into the Silent Valley Resevoir. Binnian itself overlooks both the Silent Valley reservoir from it’s summit, and also the Ben Crom reservoir from it’s northern slops on the way up to the North Tor. |
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 The view from the northern slope of Binnian looking down onto Ben Crom Reservoir. |
 Further up toward the North Tor, looking across across at Doan, Loughshannagh, Meelbeg, Ben Crom, Meelmore and Bearnagh. |
 The rock formations at the North Tor. |
 Looking south from Binnian summit, over Silent Valley Reservoir and as far as County Dublin. |
 A snow capped Donard and Commedagh from Binnian Summit. |
 Looking out toward the Irish Sea from just below Binnian Summit. |
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| Check out my tips and safety information for the hills here | |||