11k Run Newry: Scenic Loop Around Slieve Binnean

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 10.8km loop is a quintessential Mourne Mountains experience, offering a rigorous but rewarding challenge for trail runners Comfortable with technical terrain and significant vertical gain. Starting from the Carrick Little car park, you’ll tackle a steep 575m ascent that leads you past the serene Binnian Lough and up to the majestic granite tors of Slieve Binnian’s summit. The terrain is entirely off-road, featuring rugged mountain paths that transition from grassy tracks to rocky scrambles. As you navigate the high-altitude sections above 500m, keep a keen eye on the weather, but expect breathtaking panoramic views that stretch across the County Down coastline and deep into the Silent Valley.

Slieve Binnian, the third-highest peak in Northern Ireland, is steeped in both geological grandeur and local heritage. The "Mourne Wall" segment of this route is a highlight, following a remarkable hand-built dry stone structure that spans 22 miles and links the summits of fifteen mountains. Built between 1904 and 1922 to protect the catchment area of the Silent Valley reservoir, the wall serves as a reliable navigational handrail and a testament to the endurance of those who shaped this landscape. Running here feels like stepping back in time, where the silence of the upland heath is broken only by the wind and the rhythmic strike of your shoes against the ancient granite.