The legendary giant Finn McCool threw the 30 ton boulder, known
as the Cloughmore Stone, at an enemy on the Slieve Martin
Mountain Ridge from the Cooley Mountains on the other side of
Carlingford Lough, or so Irish folklore would have us believe.
Nearest Towns: Rostrevor
Distance: 1.3 miles (2km) Linear
Points of Interest: Views of Mourne
Mountains, Cooley Peninsula,
Carlingford Lough and Cloughmore Stone
Geologists insist the stone was a
spectacular remnant of the last Ice Age,
borne from Scotland on board a retreating
glacier. In either case, the Stone is well
worth a look, as are the magnificent views
over the Lough and the beautiful woodlands
of Rostrevor Forest. The area is a National
Nature Reserve and an Area of Special
Scientific Interest. There are three
waymarked trails, which vary in length
from 1.25 miles (2km) to 4.4 miles (7km)
and lead the walker to various areas within
the forest for fine views and the beauty of
the woodlands. From Cloughmore car
park, at 230m above sea level with views
of the surrounding forest, follow the signs up
a steep hill to Cloughmore Stone. These walks
are situated in a working forest environment
and may be subject to diversion and closure
from time to time. Up to date information is
available on the Forest Service web site
www.forestserviceni.gov.uk
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