Located in County Downin the southeast of Northern Ireland, the granite Mountains of Mourne are among the best-known mountains on the island of Ireland. This is a densely packed collection of wild granite peaks that sweep up from the Irish Sea. Many of the peaks are crowned with dramatic stone tors and the range is studded with beautiful glacial lakes.

With the final retreat of the ice trees colonized the area. It was a productive environment for Mesolithic hunters, some of whose remains have recently been discovered. Around 5000 years ago, farming communities settled in the area, attracted by the light fertile soils. They left behind megalithic tombs, the most prominent of which are the cairns on Slieve Donard.

The surrounding area is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is proposed as the first National Park in Northern Ireland. The Mountains of Mourne are partly owned by the National Trust and see a large number of visitors every year; their highest mountain is Slieve Donard at 849 metres (2,786 ft).

The Mountains of Mourne, an area that has become part of folk history, not just in Ireland but of the world, is a magical region which the author CS Lewis claimed inspired the mythical world of ‘Narnia’. It is where breath-taking scenery and peaceful unspoilt landscapes offer a perfect backdrop to any holiday.