Binnian Tors (Mournes)

Clean granite, a wide grade range, big mountain views

The Binnian tors give varied climbing on clean, rounded, well-weathered granite high on the ridge. There are over 160 routes spanning all grades, from moderate trad in the S to E1 band up to bold gritstone-like extremes, alongside plenty of bouldering on the scattered blocks. Climbing is entirely trad, so you place your own gear on every pitch and there are no in-situ bolts. It suits competent leaders comfortable on rounded slabs and cracks, with the views from the belay ledges across the High Mournes a real draw. Beginners should learn elsewhere first, either at an indoor wall or with a qualified instructor or club.

Outdoor trad Mournes granite 160+ routes Diff to E-grades Steep mountain walk-in Own gear needed

Good to know before you go:

Outdoor crags have no opening hours, but the Mournes climbing community runs club meets and courses through the year, and Mountaineering Ireland and local clubs are the route in for instruction or partners. If you are not yet leading trad, book a qualified instructor or join a club rather than heading up alone. Check their pages for current dates.

What to bring

👕Comfy clothes you can move inNothing restrictive — you want to reach, step high and bend.

📱A booking, or a planMost walls want you registered or booked in; crags want your route picked and someone told.

💧WaterClimbing is thirsty work, and out on the rock there is nowhere to buy any.

✅An honest check of your gradeBe straight about your experience — pick a level you will enjoy rather than survive.

Everything before you go

Type

Outdoor trad crag (mountain granite, with bouldering)

Grade range

Roughly Diff to E-grades; good spread of moderate trad S to E1 (per UKClimbing / guidebook)

Walk-in / approach

Steep mountain walk from Carrick Little car park up alongside the Mourne Wall; allow well over an hour each way

Gear

Bring your own rope, rack, helmet and mountain kit; no fixed bolts (trad)

Cost

Free to climb (it is open mountain); guidebook recommended

Booking

None — open crag for experienced climbers

Parking

Carrick Little car park, near the Head Road / Oldtown Road junction, Annalong

How long to allow

A full mountain day

Address

Approach from Carrick Little car park, 74 Oldtown Road, Annalong, Newry

Questions

Before you go

How much does it cost?

Free to climb (it is open mountain); guidebook recommended

What grades are here?

Roughly Diff to E-grades; good spread of moderate trad S to E1 (per UKClimbing / guidebook)

How long is the walk-in?

Steep mountain walk from Carrick Little car park up alongside the Mourne Wall; allow well over an hour each way

What gear do I need?

Bring your own rope, rack, helmet and mountain kit; no fixed bolts (trad)

Do I need to book?

None — open crag for experienced climbers

Getting there

Binnian Tors (Mournes) is at Approach from Carrick Little car park, 74 Oldtown Road, Annalong, Newry. Carrick Little car park, near the Head Road / Oldtown Road junction, Annalong. From there, steep mountain walk from carrick little car park up alongside the mourne wall; allow well over an hour each way. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around AnnalongSee what else is close by More climbing across NICrags, walls and family climbing centres

The story

About the venue

The high granite tors of Slieve Binnian, alongside Slieve Bearnagh and Hen Mountain, are among the best-known mountain crags in the Mournes, offering excellent routes on rounded weathered granite in an expansive high setting. Binnian's North Top in particular holds desperate slab lines plus solid lower and middle-grade climbs and the best concentration of bouldering in the range.

The routes are documented in the Mountaineering Ireland guidebook Rock Climbs in the Mourne Mountains, which covers over 26 crags and close to 1,000 trad routes across the range, and on UKClimbing's crag logbooks.