Routes up
Slieve Donard routes: 2 ways to the top
Newcastle via the Glen RiverHiking · 4.7 km one way · 837 m ascent · ~2h 20m · from Donard Park car park, NewcastleModerate
A path follows the Glen River through forest and up the open valley to the col, then climbs beside the Mourne Wall to the summit.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Newcastle via the Glen River route guideBloody BridgeHiking · 4.6 km one way · 824 m ascent · ~2h 20m · from Bloody Bridge car park, coast roadModerate
A path climbs beside the Bloody Bridge River to the Mourne Wall, then follows the wall north to the summit.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Bloody Bridge route guide
Summit today
Is it safe to climb Slieve Donard today?
Slieve Donard today (updated 19:14, 18 Oct): up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 11 mph gusting 13 mph, 0% chance of rain. A good day for the hills.
Slieve Donard weather today
Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 11 mph gusting 13 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good.
Slieve Donard weather tomorrow
Monday 19 October: light drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 61% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.
Slieve Donard weather this weekend
Sunday 18 October: overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 11 mph gusting 13 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good.
Slieve Donard summit forecast, next 7 days
| Day | Verdict | High/low | Feels like | Wind/gust mph | Rain or snow |
|---|
| TodayOvercast | Good | 6°/-1° | -3° | 11/13 | 0% |
|---|
| TomorrowLight drizzle | Marginal | 6°/1° | -2° | 24/30 | 61% |
|---|
| Tue 20Slight rain | Marginal | 7°/4° | 0° | 36/45 | 45% |
|---|
| Wed 21Moderate drizzle | Poor | 5°/-4° | -7° | 40/50 | 63% |
|---|
| Thu 22Light drizzle | Marginal | 6°/-4° | -7° | 21/26 | 70% |
|---|
| Fri 23Slight rain | Marginal | 4°/0° | -4° | 36/45 | 82% |
|---|
| Sat 24Dense drizzle | Poor | 7°/1° | -4° | 41/52 | 54% |
|---|
Slieve Donard 14-day weather forecast: days 8 to 14, less certain
| Day | Verdict | High/low | Feels like | Wind/gust mph | Rain or snow |
|---|
| Sun 25Light drizzle | Poor | 6°/1° | -6° | 55+/75+ | 59% |
|---|
| Mon 26Moderate rain showers | Poor | 7°/0° | -6° | 52/65 | 45% |
|---|
| Tue 27Moderate rain showers | Poor | 8°/1° | -7° | 55+/75+ | 43% |
|---|
| Wed 28Partly cloudy | Poor | 6°/1° | -5° | 49/61 | 32% |
|---|
| Thu 29Dense drizzle | Poor | 8°/2° | -3° | 55+/75+ | 24% |
|---|
| Fri 30Light drizzle | Poor | 8°/1° | -1° | 32/75 | 32% |
|---|
| Sat 31Moderate drizzle | Marginal | 4°/0° | -4° | 37/46 | 36% |
|---|
Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Slieve Donard each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 850m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Slieve Donard each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:57, sunset 18:19
10h 22m of daylight. Golden hour ends 08:47 and starts 17:29. From the summit you see the sun 07:51 to 18:25.
Nearby summits
Close to Slieve Donard
About Slieve Donard
Slieve Donard stands at the north-east corner of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, climbing from the sea at Newcastle. Slieve Commedagh lies 1.5 km north-west across a col, and Chimney Rock Mountain 2.1 km south. It is the county top of Down, a Hewitt, a Marilyn, an Arderin and a Vandeleur-Lynam.
The most popular route starts at Donard Park in Newcastle and follows the Glen River up through forest and open hillside to the col between Donard and Commedagh. From there you follow the Mourne Wall up a steep, stony slope to the summit. A second route climbs from Bloody Bridge on the coast road, following the river up to the wall.
The Mourne Wall crosses the summit, where a small stone tower stands beside a cairn. On a clear day the view reaches the Isle of Man and across Dundrum Bay. The upper path is steep and eroded.
Slieve Donard is 850 m (2,789 ft) high with 825 m of prominence. It is in Mourne Mountains, Ireland. OS grid reference J358276. It is the highest of the 37 summits Peakify lists in Mourne Mountains. The nearest summits are Slieve Commedagh (1.5 km), Chimney Rock Mountain (2.1 km) and Rocky Mountain (2.6 km).
What is the easiest way up Slieve Donard?
The Glen River path from Donard Park in Newcastle is the most popular route. It is clear all the way, steep on the final pull beside the Mourne Wall.
Where do you park for Slieve Donard?
Donard Park car park in Newcastle serves the Glen River route. Bloody Bridge car park on the coast road serves the southern route.
Can you climb Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh together?
Yes. Slieve Commedagh is 1.5 km north-west across the col where the Glen River path meets the Mourne Wall.
How high is Slieve Donard?
Slieve Donard is 850 metres high with 825 metres of prominence.
Where is Slieve Donard?
Slieve Donard is listed in Mourne Mountains, Ireland.
Are there routes for Slieve Donard?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Slieve Donard, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Newcastle via the Glen River (4.7 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb Slieve Donard today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What is the weather on Slieve Donard tomorrow?
Monday 19 October: light drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 61% chance of rain. Rated Marginal.
What is the weather on Slieve Donard this weekend?
Sunday 18 October: overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 11 mph gusting 13 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good.
What weather information is shown for Slieve Donard?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Written and kept up to date by the Peakify team. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
