Hare's Gap

You'll find Hare's Gap tucked into the Mourne Mountains between Newcastle and the high passes that cut through this corner of County Down. It's a proper mountain pass - the sort of place where the landscape suddenly narrows and the hills press in on you from both sides. The gap itself is more about the walk than any single viewpoint, though once you're through it, the Mourne ridgeline opens up in ways that feel properly wild.

This is walker territory. The pass connects the valleys and offers straightforward access to the higher ground if you're keen on ridge walking or heading toward the peaks. You don't need technical gear or hours of scrambling - it's accessible enough for anyone reasonably fit, but it rewards you with genuine mountain atmosphere rather than queuing and visitor facilities. Allow two to three hours if you're taking it slowly and soaking in the views.

Camp at Tollymore or Bloody Bridge and you're ideally positioned. Both sit within striking distance of Hare's Gap, and Tollymore in particular gives you easy access to the broader Mourne range. Newcastle is the nearest proper town for supplies and food, about four miles away, though honestly you'll be self-catering from the campsites.

It's not a destination for rushing through. Go early, expect it to be quiet, and bring weather-appropriate kit - the mountains shift moods fast. Families with older kids who don't mind a proper walk will get something real here, not a postcard experience.