We’re not surprised the Mourne mountain range is prettiest in the UK

Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains was voted the prettiest sight in the UK.

Anyone from County Down can tell you the Mourne mountain range is the prettiest in the UK, but it’s nice to know that other people are thinking it too. It helps restore the ego after being labelled culchies by those living in the big smoke of Belfast. Everyone knows we’re townies. Christ Belfast, get it right.

The Mournes, despite not being the biggest mountain range in Ireland, never mind Britain, have always been a pretty sight and because of this have managed to penetrate and influence our culture here at home, and in Britain.

Some view for one view

Finn McCool

The big aul giant who is best known for making the Causeway (and subsequently the north’s tourist economy) also had a bit of a fight in South Down, throwing stones at another giant (keep it classy Newry and Mourne). One of these stones landed on Slieve Bán and is now a local centerpiece known as Cloc Mór (literally meaning big stone) or as it is otherwise known, “Sunday Morning white girl Instagram”. It’s also the site of his death – well across the pond – on the Cooley Peninsula, a sight to see in its own right. Stories claim that if you look closely, you can see the outline of the giant himself.

I’m thinking perpetua, or hefe. Just not Nashville though #fitness #mountain #nohangoversundays

Music

Now we all know that the Irish have a song for everything. But its nice to know that one of the most famous is featured around Mourne, you know yer wan “where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea”. Great tune. No better way to end a night out in Box. Nah, but really, with many an Irish man and woman leaving the land for work or schooling it’s nice to see a classic like this, about such a pretty sight, still resonating today. *Disclaimer* the following clip perpetuates stereotypes and has been known to make ex-pats cry.

Literature

Sure you wouldn’t believe it but didn’t yer man who wrote Narnia adore the Mournes, citing the view from Slieve Bán in Rostrevor as the inspiration for his books. And it’s no shock why, the view a majesty on both a blustery winter’s day and one of summer. It kind of makes Narnia make a bit more sense too, Aslan’s accent giving off a bit of a northern twang. Turns out Liam Neeson isn’t a shite actor, Aslan’s just a local.

Television and Film

Yeah, we all know Game of Thrones is filmed in the north and that the Mournes are often used when filming scenes for the wintery north. We’re all proud and it’s cool. But did you know that before we had A-List celebrities hanging around Maud’s in Newcastle there was a whole movie based around The Kingdom of Mourne? That’s literally what they called it in the film. The film was set in the Kingdom of Mourne. And who was in it? Few lads you’ve probably never heard of, James Franco, Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman. The mind boggles. You’ll have a higher chance meeting a celebrity up in the hills than you would on the high street.

So there you have it, pretty sites, celebrities, music, culture. It’s also only 20 minutes away from La Dolce Vita takeaway. Which is- in my opinion- the second best sight in the whole of the UK.