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Ben Crom Reservoir Walk

2.49 miles (4 km)

Open Streetmap Enjoy a short hike above this pretty reservoir in the Mourne Mountains. The reservoir was constructed between 1953 and 1957 and supplies water for County Down, the surrounding counties and most of Belfast.
Start the walk from the reservoir wall at the southern end. You can catch shuttle busses to here from the Silent Valley. From the top of the wall there are wonderful views to Silent Valley, Slievenaglogh Mountain and Ben Crom Mountain. You can then follow a path east to climb to a fine viewpoint over the water. The path will then lead you up to the pretty Blue Lough before descending back down to the reservoir.
To continue your reservoir walking in the Mourne Mountains head south to visit the Silent Valley Reservoir. There's lovely woodland trails to follow along the River Kilkeel with smaller ornamental lakes to enjoy as well.
Also nearby is Spelga Dam. There's waterside trails along the lake shore at the southern end of the reservoir with a nice picnic area at the northern end.

Ben Crom Reservoir Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The circular climb to Slieve Binnian passes close to the reservoir so you could pick this up to extend your walking.
To the west you'll find more pleasant waterside trails along Lough Shannagh. You can reach the lough by following a footpath west from Ben Crom Reservoir.

Photos

View from Ben Crom - geograph.org.uk - 500338

View from Ben Crom reservoir wall

Ben Crom Reservoir (detail) - geograph.org.uk - 640950

Outflow where the water floods out at the bottom of the reservoir wall

The Ben Crom Dam

The Ben Crom Dam

The Ben Crom Reservoir from the summit ride of Ben Crom

Reservoir from the summit ride of Ben Crom

Towards Ben Crom - geograph.org.uk - 1139434

Towards Ben Crom 1

Towards Ben Crom - geograph.org.uk - 1139419

Towards Ben Crom 2

The Blue Lough - geograph.org.uk - 1139117

The Blue Lough

The Classic Coaches of Annalong Shuttle Bus approaching Ben Crom Dam - geograph.org.uk - 2530425

The Classic Coaches of Annalong Shuttle Bus approaching Ben Crom Dam

GPS Files

GPX File

Ben Crom Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Ben Crom Reservoir.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)