Tievecrom

The walk up Tievecrom rewards you properly - it's one of those peaks that doesn't announce itself loudly but gives you serious views once you've earned them. Sitting at around 2,200 feet in the Mourne Mountains south of Newry, it's a proper hill walk rather than a casual stroll, taking the best part of three hours for most people to reach the summit and return.

What makes it worthwhile is the clarity. On a decent day you can see across to Slieve Donard and the rest of the Mournes, and south towards the Irish coast. The terrain is rough moorland - bog in places, rocky in others - so proper boots matter. It's the sort of walk that appeals to people who actually like walking rather than just the idea of it. Families with young kids will find it demanding; teenagers who've done a bit of hill work will manage fine.

You'll start from one of the car parks near the mountain range, and there's no visitor centre or facilities at the top - just the summit cairn and wide-open space. It's free to access, which is rare enough these days. The best light is usually late morning through early afternoon, and avoid it after heavy rain when the ground becomes properly treacherous.

If you're staying at Hilltop Hideaway just down the road, this makes a brilliant day out before returning to your pod. It's exactly the kind of walk that justifies booking a secluded spot in the first place.