EXPLORE the Mournes

Length: 22 miles

The wall encloses an area of approximately 9,000 acres of the High Mournes that is used as a water catchment area for the city of Belfast. The Belfast Water Commission needed to find an alternative source of fresh water as Belfast became more industialised & they identified the Mountains of Mourne as the best source.

The building of the wall commenced in 1904 and lasted for 18 years until 1922.

Only rock that was readily to hand was used to build the wall and the work started every year in early spring & finished in late autumn. The wall is a dry wall & the only mortar used was in the construction of three lookout towers one each at Slieve Donard, Slieve Commedagh & Slieve Meelmore.

The intention of the wall was to keep people & livestock out with a reminder of this on the rusting signs on the three lookout towers proclaiming 'Trespassers Prosecuted'

I doubt it was the intention of the Belfast Water Commission to built this wall as a guide but that is what it has become for most hikers & walkers in this area of the Mournes.

A massive thanks to the men that worked on the wall over the years. The gratitude towards them will live on for a long time to come by the people who use their tremendous work as a guide when planning their hiking routes. When following the wall it is almost impossible to get lost.

The wall has been built over the following peaks stopping only where it was impossible to build: Slieve Donard, Slieve commedgh, Slieve Corragh, Slievenalogh, Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Meelmore, Slieve Meelbeg, Slieve Loughshannagh, Carn Mountain, Slieve Muck, Slievenalogh(2), Slieve Binnian, Long Seefin & Rocky Mountain.

If anyone has information regarding the people that worked on the wall please contact me & perhaps this information can be included on this page.