Slieve Bearnagh
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| Slieve Bearnagh | |
|---|---|
| Sliabh Bearnach | |
 Slieve Bearnagh from the east | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Slieve Bearnagh summit, Mourne Mountains, County Down |
| Elevation | 739 m (2,425 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 304 m (997 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Slieve Commedagh |
| Isolation | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) to Slieve Meelmore |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt |
| Coordinates | 54°11′06″N 5°59′22″W / 54.18509°N 5.98949°W |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | From Irish Sliabh Bearnach, meaning "gap mountain" |
| Native name | Sliabh Bearnach (Irish) |
| English translation | Gap mountain |
| Geography | |
  Slieve Bearnagh Location of Slieve Bearnagh in Northern Ireland | |
 | |
| Location | County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| County | County Down |
| Parent range | Mourne Mountains |
| OSI/OSNI grid | J313281 |
| Topo map | Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland OSNI Outdoor Pursuits map Mourne Country |
| Biome | Upland heath and grassland |
| Geology | |
| Formed by | Intrusive igneous activity |
| Orogeny | Caledonian |
| Rock age | ~60 million years (Paleogene) |
| Mountain type | Granite mountain |
| Rock type(s) | Aplitic granite with dolerite and feldspar porphyry dykes |
| Last eruption | Not applicable |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike from Trassey Track or Meelmore Lodge |
| Normal route | Eastern approach via Hare’s Gap |
| Access | Public access via Mourne Wall paths and upland trails |
Slieve Bearnagh (from Irish Sliabh Bearnach 'gapped mountain')[2] is one of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland.[3] It has a height of 739 metres (2,425 ft).[4] Its summit is crowned by two tors with a gap between them, giving it a distinctive shape.[3] The Mourne Wall crosses the summit of Slieve Bearnagh east to west. Paths lead to the cols on either side of the mountain, namely Pollaphuca ("pool of the púca") to the west and Hare's Gap to the east. From the latter, one can also descend southwards to the head of the Ben Crom reservoir.
Like much of the Mourne range, Slieve Bearnagh is composed primarily of granite, formed during the Paleogene period. The tors at the summit are classic examples of granite weathering, creating dramatic rock formations.[5]
Ecology
The area surrounding Slieve Bearnagh supports upland heath and bog habitats. Vegetation includes species such as heather, bilberry, mosses, and lichens. Alpine plants such as Dwarf Willow and Cowberry are found among the summit crags, where wind passes through crevices even on calm days.[6] Bird species commonly found in the area include meadow pipits and ravens. Slieve Bearnagh lies within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which provides environmental protection for the region.[5] Slieve Bearnagh is listed among the principal peaks in the Mourne Mountains where summit grassland communities are developed. These communities are characterized by the dominance of Festuca ovina, Rhacomitrium lanuginosum, and dwarf Vaccinium myrtillus, and are associated with summit areas lacking peat.[7]
