SKL's Walking Blog

Mourne Way – 2

Spelga to Tolleymore – 11th March 2026

Today, on the face of it, started much better. The sun had come out and it was running at around 10 degrees. However, I am no longer the climber. The early morning, straight-up-the-face of Spatha did me in. After that, the mud and swamp and forty mile an hour wind was a trial.
I made it to the carpark above Fofanny to be met with the question, “Is it cold up there?” A group of youngish woman about to climb Slievenamuck in their trainers. I wished them well.

Along the fence line for a bit. No sign of the big climb yet.
Hen mountain from yesterday.
The hills of Castlewellan and Leitrim etc.
Oh Frig! No path but straight up I must go.
Spelga Reservoir.
Butter Mountain ahead and Slievenamuck to the right in the foreground. Behind them, peaks that I’ll not be climbing.
The welcome view of a road ahead.
The feet and knees are loving the flat surface.
Fofanny Reservoir.
Full to the brim from all the recent deluges.
Miles of this and then the western edge of Tolleymore.
Last view of the mountains.
The sun shining and giant trees.
Glad I’m not having to cross that in the wet. Nearly fell in as it was.
The Folly at Tolleymore and nearly done.

Well the cafe was shut, and the little coffee van was closed. Spent a cold thirty minutes waiting on a taxi.
I didn’t think that I’d manage today, that this would be the day that I gave up. But, I surprised myself – though it took an hour to climb Spatha mountain.
This the end of the Mourne Way as I’ve already done the rest when doing the Newcastle Way.