{"id":11744,"date":"2022-03-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=11744"},"modified":"2022-03-23T15:51:37","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T14:51:37","slug":"slumbering-in-the-mournes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/03\/08\/slumbering-in-the-mournes\/","title":{"rendered":"Slumbering in the mournes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BUDGET WALKING WEEKENDS<\/span><\/p>\n\n

STAY: <\/strong>Meelmore Lodge, County Down<\/span><\/p>\n\n

SLUMBERING IN THE MOURNES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Meelmore Lodge is so well positioned that you don\u2019t even need a car to begin your day of exploring; just wake up and walk directly from your tent or room into the Mourne Mountains, says Helen Fairbairn<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Writer CS Lewis once wrote of the Mourne Mountains: \u201cI have seen landscapes which, under a particular light, made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.\u201d <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

I<\/span>f the Mourne Mountains are the walking Mecca of Northern Ireland, then Meelmore Lodge is the hiker\u2019s haven that lies at its heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

With a location on the lower slopes of Slieve Meelmore, guests can embark on some of the region\u2019s most famous hikes directly from the front door. Simply wake up, tie your boots and go.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

You don\u2019t even have to cross a road to begin classic mountain circuits over Slieve Meelmore, Slieve Meelbeg, Slieve Binnian and Slieve Commedagh. Lower down there is direct access to the two-day, 22.3-mile Mourne Way, with the scenic trails and lush tree canopies of Tollymore Forest Park just a short stroll away.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\"\"
Food for thought as you enjoy cake and coffee at Meelmore Lodge\u2019s caf\u00e9<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The friendly complex offers a choice of accommodation, including self-catering, and a campsite is open in the summer months. Services are completed by a caf\u00e9 \u2013 which serves breakfast and lunch \u2013 and a secure car park.<\/p>\n\n

Meelmore Lodge: camping (\u00a310\/ \u00a35 per adult\/child), hostel dorm rooms (\u00a325 per person) and private rooms (\u00a335 per person), and self-catering cottage (\u00a3120 for two). meelmorelodge.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n\n
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Helen Fairbairn is the author of Northern Ireland: A Walking Guide.<\/p>\n\n

photo: Meelmore Lodge<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meelmore Lodge is so well positioned that you don\u2019t even need a car to begin your day of exploring; just wake up and walk directly from your tent or room into the Mourne Mountains, says Helen Fairbairn<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":11740,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"87","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"87","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_87-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_87-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"April-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"April-2022","purple_external_id":"April-2022-87-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"April-2022-87-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084054||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084054||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.188","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.188","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.188","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.188","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-03-09T11:42:21Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"1c35dba5-0b00-4a55-adf5-8909cabbf75e","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-03-23T14:51:43Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AHDXbpQsASlWt9YkJyrv3Xg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[30],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"2","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04.jpg",2048,1108,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04-300x162.jpg",300,162,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04-768x416.jpg",768,416,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04-1024x554.jpg",800,433,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04-1536x831.jpg",1536,831,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/03\/c70e9064-11ee-44ee-941c-8e1ce847bf04.jpg",2048,1108,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Meelmore Lodge is so well positioned that you don\u2019t even need a car to begin your day of exploring; 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