Rostrevor is just East of Warrenpoint, signposted from Newry or Newcastle on the A2. Park in Rostrevor village or Kilbroney Park, which has a cafe and full trail head facilities at the car park.
Full information on Rostrevor Trails on MountainBikeNI.
Off the Beaten Track...
This part of the world is best known by local crew Not the Sunday Run . They have a great website where you can see lots of trailmaps and photographs of trail conditions and other hijinx. Contact the guys there for more detail, as they know every inch of the place.
Pioneered by Rostrevor ne'er-do-wells Not The Sunday Run, and christened by Henry, the Slieve Martin Slaughter involves 4 ascents and descents of Rostrevor's Slieve Martin, all by different routes. It involves some of the most heart-wrenching climbs and exhilarating singletrack in the country.
Slieve Martin cairn stands 485 meters above Rostrevor Village and there are 4 different routes that will take you almost to the peak, as follows:
Start - Foresters Hut Kilbroney Park
GREEN LOOP - Ascent 1 - Take the hill to Fallow and through the Tunnel out onto the mountain. Climb to mast and from here over to fence. Cross fence and onto Cairn. Descend via Slievemeen and Ballyedmond wood back to Foresters Hut.
BLUELOOP – Ascent 2 – Take hill towards Fallow and turn off at first right. Follow road up the mountain to the top Car Park. Through the car park, turn left and climb zig zags to the cairn. From here it is down the descent to Cloghmor and back to the Foresters Hut.
YELLOW LOOP – Ascent 3 – From the Foresters Hut follow the hill towards Fiddlers Green. Stay on the low track until you reach the open mountain. Follow track along the fence / wall until you come to a metal gate. Turn left and climb on this road / trail until you come to the mast. Descend via fallow and back to Foresters Hut.
RED LOOP – Ascent 4 – Follow Hill all the way up to Fiddlers Green this time and from here turn left. Follow this trail until you come to a tarmac road; turn right and then take the first right again up a stony hill. At the next junction turn right then after climbing a steep hill turn left. Follow this track for approx 150 meters and then turn up the trail which will bring you to Cloghmor stone. From here climb up one of the previous descents to the top of the mountain. Descend via Slievemeen and Ballynagelty.
Inaugural Slieve Martin Slaughter, 10 November 2007 - report and pictures at Not The Sunday Run and Tango & Cash.
CURRENT AVERAGE
4.6
OUT OF 5 BADGERS