This holiday was based in Newcastle just beneath the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.

It's easiest to get there from Dublin, so we had all met up at Dublin Airport in the afternoon. A couple of women arrived early and spent the morning in Dublin City.

The Luton flight was late arriving so it was after 1800 hrs by the time we reached Newcastle Hostel in Northern Ireland, a 2 hours drive from the airport.

After quickly unpacking we went out to eat at an Italian restaurant around the corner from the hostel.

After Breakfast we drove for 20 minutes to start our walk. Today our goal was to climb 3 of the 7 mountains over 700 metres in the Mournes.

We started walking up the Trassey Track with the day a bit overcast and cloud covering our first mountain Slieve Binian.

As we walked up the track towards Hare's Gap the sun was trying to come out, but the cloud was still covering the tops.

At Hare's Gap we met the Mourne Wall for the first time.

The wall runs for 35 km over 15 mountains in the range, it is about 2 metres high in most places, and is completely cement free.

It was built between 1904 and 1922 to mark the boundary of the catchments of the Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs.

After a steep climb beside the wall we reached the top of Slieve Binnian, with its giant tors which today was very atmospheric in the swirling mist.

We followed the wall steeply up and down over 4 more peaks, during which time the sun came out and we had a glorious afternoon.

At times we had superb views over Lough Shannagh & Ben Crom reservoir.

Finally we left the wall to head over to Ott Mountain, before reaching the Ulster Way which we followed back to the start of the walk.

In the evening we had dinner in Newry which is about 30 minutes drive from Newcastle.

We woke to a sunny day and after breakfast we drove to another area of the Mournes.

Unfortunately as we followed the wall up to Slieve Binnian we could see that the top was in cloud.

However other peaks we planned to climb today were cloud free and indeed some of them were in sun.

Slieve Binnian has 2 tops South Tor and North Tor.

We had a short rest on the South Tor, then made our way over to the North Tor.

As we crossed to North Tor we came out of the clouds and had the most wonderful views of the Ben Crom Reservoir and Slieve Bearnagh which we had climbed yesterday.

We left the Mourne Wall for the middle part of the walk.

After a steep rocky ascent of Slieve Lamagan we had lunch in the top, with glorious views all around, mountains on one side and sea on the other.

Two more peaks followed before we reached the Brandy Pad path.

The Brandy Pad was created in the 18th and 19th centuries by the boots of smugglers and their ponies.

Their cargoes of tobacco, wine, spirits, leather, silk and spices were carried along the Brandy Pad from the nearby coast and down the Trassey track to be distributed inland.

We followed the Pad to the Mourne Wall

Here a couple of women decided to go directly down into Newcastle with Alma while the rest of us followed the wall back down to where we had started the walk.

A good evening was had by all in Newcastle.

Another lovely sunny day. Today was the day for climbing the highest mountain in Northern Ireland - Slieve Donard (850 metres).

We set off walking from the hostel which is at sea level, no need to drive anywhere.

Alma and I had earlier driven the van to the end of the walk.

We walked up through Donard Wood by the Glen River and out into the Glen Valley, and made our way up once more to another part of the Mourne wall.

There were a few tired legs today so we split into 2 groups.

Three women went with Alma straight up to Slieve Donard and down the other side to Bloody Bridge and walked back to Newcastle.

The rest of us walked on the Brandy Pad over to Hares Gap and then followed the wall on its very undulating route over the 2 highest mountains in the range, Slieve Commedagh and Slieve Donard.

We had such superb views all day of where we had walked the previous days.

It was very windy today but the wall helped to keep us sheltered most of the way to the top of Slieve Commadagh.

From Slieve Commadagh we continued on to Slieve Donard - the highest mountain in Northern Ireland.

From the top of Donard it was a long tiring descent all the way down to the sea at Bloody Bridge.

After the walk we all headed to Maude's Café for ice cream and drinks.

We had a lovely dinner at Percy Frenchs Restaurant in Newcastle.

The weather forecast for today was very bad, pouring rain and gale force winds!

It didn't look too promising when we finished breakfast, but several women were very keen for finish off with a walk before heading to the airport.

Other women wanted to just walk around Newcastle, and a couple even went swimming in the sea!!

The rest of us drove to the other side of the Mournes. By the time we got there the rain had almost stopped!

We had a short sharp climb up Hen Mountain before a longer ascent up Cock Mountain

By the time we got to the top the sun was out, but it was extremely windy and standing up was not easy even though we were only at just over 500m.

We made our way down through the pathless heather slopes of Cock Mtn down to Rocky River and then back to the van.

It was back to Newcastle for a quick lunch and then off back to Dublin and airport.

Thank you to everyone who made this first holiday in the Mourne Mountains such an enjoyable one.