Hare’s Castle Camp

Hare’s Castle in the Mourne Mountains is a secluded rocky knoll offering commanding views over Annalong Valley.

It’s an easy hike from both Carrick Little and Dunnywater car parks and a great option for those wishing to avoid the crowds on the more popular routes in the area.

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

T.S. Eliot

We tend to be creatures of habit—following the well-worn trails, climbing the familiar mountains.

But when we break from these routines and step off the beaten paths, we often find the best experiences. The kind that leave lasting impressions.

This camp with Stephen Reid on top of Hare’s Castle in August was exactly that—a fresh adventure in a mountain range I’ve been exploring for over 25 years, and easily the highlight of the summer for that very reason. It was still the Mournes I know so well, but somehow new again.

There’s nothing quite like a starry night in the hills with a good friend, a smoky fire, and a hipflask.

Just don’t ask about the midges.

These photos were all shot with a 7artisans 25mm f/1.8 budget lens for Canon EF-M—such an enjoyable little prime to use when the outdoor experience is more important than the photography. I absolutely love its quirks and the almost vintage aesthetic it adds to the images.