Height : 767 metres
Grid Ref: J346286
Google Maps : 54.188855, -5.938667
Prominence: 180m
Slieve Commedagh (Sliabh Coimhéideach – watching/guarding mountain) is the second highest mountain in the Mournes and lies across a saddle from Northern Irelands highest, Slieve Donard. It carries the Mourne Wall, is one of the 6 peaks over 700m and is one of only 3 peaks to have a single room tower at the top built to provide shelter for the men constructing the wall. The downside to being next to Donard is that the most popular route up is extremely busy meaning some rubbish on the way and the tower at the top is mostly unusable except in the most extreme circumstances because of the mess.
Slieve Commedagh from Slieve Corragh
It is a prominent mountain visible on a clear day from Belfast and affords excellent views of Donard Forest and the Newcastle coast to the North East and the inner Mournes to the rear. The well known Brandy Pad, a famous smugglers route passes behind giving epic views of the granite tors knows as The Castles . Between Commedagh and Slieve Corragh, the next peak on the wall are some further impressive granite outcrops and directly infront are the Pot of Pulgarve and Pot of Legawherry. The Slieve Commedagh massif also includes the peaks of Slievecorragh (to the east), Shan Slieve, Slievenamaddy and Slievenabrock (to the north).
Commedagh can be accessed from a variety of start points but the most popular and direct is from Donard Park in Newcastle. Following the Glen River through Donard Forest you ascend until the trees clear and the Ice House, a 19th century stone structure used to keep meat cold for the Annesly family, the local landowners comes into view. From there on a clear day Donard and Commedagh are visible and there is a decent path all the way to the foot of the saddle where the path becomes steep stone steps which are a tough climb, moreso when icy in the winter. At the saddle you meet the Mourne Wall and a style that would take you to the Brandy Pad but instead, you turn right and follow the magnificent wall to the summit tower. The actual summit proper is North East of there and has an obvious Cairn.
Slieve Commedagh Summit Video