These mountains occupy just a small corner of County Down, with no more than a dozen peaks surpassing 600 m, and yet they attract thousands of visitors each year. Northern Ireland's grandest scenery sweeps around in a great arc of granite mountains between Dundrum Bay and Carlingford Lough, a patchwork of tiny sheep-cropped fields with drystone walls lying below the peaks. As well as being popular for rock climbing, this area can only be properly enjoyed on foot. The main recreation area is the Silent Valley with reservoirs and dams, and superb mountain panoramas. The best base for the Mourne area is the resort of Newcastle, "Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea". Some 35 km north of Newcastle, the Legananny Dolmen is one of the finest and most photographed ancient sites in the country.
