Mourne Mountains long weekend in five-star accommodation at a one-star price!!

Northern Ireland's premier Granite crags with a wide variety of trad and bouldering at all grades and spectacular walking and classic fell running, including the famous Mourne Wall challenge – a brilliant running or walking challenge of 35km with about 15 peaks and 2600m of ascent.

Peaks include: Slieve Donard 853m (Northern Irelands highest) ; Slieve Commedagh 765m, Slieve Binnian 747, Slieve Bearnagh 739m, Slieve Meelbeg  708m,  Meelmore  704m.

Booking will open to full members and associate members from October 15th.  Places will be reserved in order of Add Me submissions. A small deposit of £25 pp will be payable by the end of November 2026. This meet will open to Prospective members if places remain unfilled after a few weeks.

 There are 24 spaces available in top-notch accommodation - five lovely self-catering cottages (3 x 4pp and 2 x 6pp) around a private courtyard and only £105 per bedspace for all 3 nights. We can choose to designate a couple of the cottages as dog-friendly, too. Most rooms in the cottages can be made up as twins as nearly all the beds are zip and link. Self Catering Holiday Cottages Newcastle, Co Down NI | Kribben Cottages

For those who want to make the most of the 3 nights we have booked there is a cunning plan: we'll travel using the overnight ferries leaving from Birkenhead at 10 pm on Thursday, utilising the sleeping cabins and arriving in Belfast on Friday at 06.30 am, 4 full days of walking and climbing can be had, returning on the overnight ferry at 22.30 on Bank Holiday Monday night, arriving back in Birkenhead at 06.30 am. Just in time for work on Tuesday! The cabins are really quite nice and very well priced if shared between four.

Outward and return on an over night ferry with a flexible, refundable ticket and a four person cabin each way is about £720 between four people, so £180pp. Obviously there are many combinations that work here, and Jo and I can help match people up with lifts or cabins as best we can – especially anyone who is new and knows less folk – ideally though people will make their own arrangements with friends in the club.

In total then, it’s a five-night break (two nights ferry, three nights cottages) for under £300.

Of course there are other ways of getting there by ferry which entirely doable but they all cost more in fuel and time.

It may also be possible for us to book a cottage or two for extra time if anyone wants a longer break.

You might also consider a longer break elsewhere on the island of Ireland, perhaps to climb at Fairhead, the sea cliffs in the West in County Clare or maybe the unique Burren. Then there is the island's highest mountain Carrauntoohil (1038m) located down in County Kerry in McGillyCuddys Reeks.

If you are booking with KMC friends / climbing partners and would like to share a cottage please let me know by email.