The Adventure Weekend

You're about to climb the highest mountain in Northern Ireland. This is not the morning for a light breakfast. Get yourself a proper Ulster fry — soda bread, potato bread, bacon, sausages, eggs, the lot. You'll be grateful for every calorie around the 600-metre mark.

The big one. Park at Donard Park and follow the Glen River trail up through the forest and onto open mountain. The path follows the Mourne Wall to the summit of *Sliabh Donard* — Northern Ireland's highest point at 850 metres. On a clear day you can see six counties, the Isle of Man, and the mountains of Snowdonia. On a cloudy day you'll see your own hands and that's about it. Either way, you'll feel it in your legs. Allow 4-5 hours for the full return. Pack a lunch, waterproofs, and layers — the weather changes faster than your mood on the steep bits.

Option A: pack sandwiches and eat them on the summit like a champion, watching the world spread out beneath you. Option B: come down starving and demolish a massive burger at Brunel's in Newcastle. There is no wrong answer here, but there's something unreasonably satisfying about eating a ham sandwich at 850 metres with the wind trying to steal it.

If your legs are still speaking to you, drive five minutes south to Bloody Bridge (*Droichead Fuilteach*) and walk the short coastal trail. The name comes from a grim 1641 massacre, but the walk itself is beautiful — a river gorge dropping to the sea with the mountains behind. If your legs have filed a formal complaint, walk along Newcastle beach instead and let the cold Irish Sea sort out your calves.

You've earned this. The Anchor is a proper local pub — no pretension, good pints, and the kind of atmosphere where you can sit in your hiking gear without anyone blinking. Order a Guinness or try a Whitewater Brewery ale (brewed locally in Castlewellan) and enjoy the deeply satisfying feeling of having conquered the highest peak in the province. Your legs will thank you for sitting down.

You want something hearty. The Anchor Bar does solid pub grub — steaks, burgers, fish and chips — the kind of meal you need after a day on the mountain. If you're after something a bit more refined (you've earned it), Brunel's does excellent locally sourced food with generous portions. Or try the Slieve Donard Hotel's restaurant for something special. Whatever you choose, order the biggest thing on the menu. You've walked 15km and climbed 850 metres. Calories are a reward, not a concern.

Two options. Stay in Newcastle — the Slieve Donard Resort if you want luxury after your summit, or more affordable guesthouses and B&Bs on the Central Promenade. Or drive 30 minutes to Rostrevor and stay near your Day 2 action. Rostrevor has great B&Bs and puts you right at the trailhead for tomorrow's mountain biking. The Kilbroney Bar is walking distance if you want a nightcap.

Fuel up for another day of earning your dinner. The Corner House does proper breakfasts and good coffee — exactly what you need before hitting the trails. If you're staying in Newcastle, grab something at your accommodation and drive over. It's about 30 minutes along the coast road, and the views across Carlingford Lough will wake you up faster than the coffee.

Rostrevor has some of the best mountain biking trails on the island of Ireland, and that's not local bias — people travel from across the UK and Ireland for these. The trails wind through Kilbroney Forest Park with routes from family-friendly green runs to seriously technical black-graded descents. Bike hire is available locally. If mountain biking isn't your thing, walk up to the Cloughmore Stone (*Cloch Mhór* — 'the great stone') instead — a 50-tonne glacial boulder perched above Rostrevor that legend says was hurled across Carlingford Lough by the giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The walk takes about 40 minutes up and the views are outrageous.

Rostrevor is a small village with big character. The Corner House does great casual food — sandwiches, soups, the kind of thing you want after a morning on the trails. Or try the Kilbroney Bar for pub lunch. You're eating outdoors if the weather's good — Rostrevor sits right on Carlingford Lough and the setting is gorgeous.

The afternoon belongs to the water. Carlingford Lough is sheltered enough for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, with the Mourne Mountains on one side and the Cooley Mountains (Republic of Ireland) on the other. Several operators run sessions from Rostrevor and Warrenpoint. If you'd rather stay on land, the Rostrevor to Warrenpoint Greenway is a beautiful flat walk or cycle along the lough shore — perfect for recovering legs. Or if you want something more intense, ask about coasteering sessions along the coast.

Day two, pint two. You've summited the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, mountain biked through ancient forest, and paddled across an international waterway. You've earned this twice over. The Cloughmore Bar and Kilbroney Bar in Rostrevor are both excellent. If you fancy the short drive (or cycle) to Warrenpoint, The Whistledown Hotel has cracking views over the lough.

End the weekend the right way. In Rostrevor, the Cloughmore Bar does solid evening food, or The Corner House if it's doing evening service. For more options, Warrenpoint is five minutes down the road — The Restaurant at The Whistledown does excellent local food with lough views, or there are several good spots along the main street. Order something massive, toast the weekend, and start planning the next one.

If you're still awake (and you should be — the adrenaline tends to carry you through), walk down to the lough shore for sunset. The light over Carlingford Lough in the evening is something else — the Cooley Mountains turn purple, the water goes flat and gold, and you'll stand there thinking "I just had the best weekend." Because you did.