The UK has a new UNESCO Geopark and it is a place I know rather well.. the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark, is where I call home.

I grew up near Rostrevor where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.. quite literally as you can see.

The lower slopes of Slieve Martin are covered with an ancient oak forest, often referred to as Celtic rainforest. The woodland floor boasts bluebells, pungent wild garlic growing in the dappled sunlight amongst the beech, wild cherry and oaks, where red squirrels still scamper amongst the boughs.

Now I have to confess that I am a landowner, many years ago my father bought an acre of scrub and woodland behind our former home to protect it from development. To mark a recent birthday he gifted it to me.

This is where we played as kids, and the star attraction for me was a magnificient cherry tree with boughs that could support the weight of swinging children. Here’s a photo of my sister as a young teen beneath its branches laden with blossom.

The tree still stands showing its age now, strangled by ivy.

Photos by Kevin Starrs

Rostrevor is called the village in seven hills, situated on the north coast of Carlingford Lough, it faces the sun and is famous for its own little micro climate. Located in the UK, it also faces the Republic of Ireland, just a mile or so away.

UNESCO has recently designated the Mournes, along with the Ring of Gullion and Strangford Lough as a new UNESCO global geopark.

The area’s geology was created by ancient volcanic forces, magma becomming granite over millenia. The landscape was sculpted by ice age glaciers. An iconic feature that illustrates this is a granite boulder, left at the top of Slieve Martin by a glacier, known as Clough Mor, meaning big stone.

Growing up in Ireland I was told tales of ancient mythology, of giants, fairies and heroic sagas. One of Ireland’s most famous hero giants is credited with gifting Rostrevor the Clough Mor. Finn Mac Cool was fighting (as always) with another giant and he threw a stone and it landed on top of Slieve Martin where it has been ever since.

Finn Mac Cool is also responsible for another UNESCO site the Giant’s Causeway which he built to reach a Scottish giant he was fighting. Sure he was fierce bad tempered was Finn.

A more recent literay reference is ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, which I mentioned in another post about my beloved hometown. C.S. Lewis holidayed in Rostrevor as child and wrote : “that part of Rostrevor which overlooks Carlingford Lough is my idea of Narnia”.

I fancy that the Clough Mor was the inspiration for Aslan’s table.

Speaking of Aslan, I once found a stone that looks supsiciously like a sleeping lion amongst the moss and bracken on a walk in Tollymore Forest park at the foot of Slieve Donard, the Mourne’s tallest peak. Or do I just see things in stones ?

The UNESCO geopark designation will no doubt bring a much needed tourism boost to the Mournes. The region has plenty to offer, UNESCO mentions that the unique ‘combination of mountain and coastal environments has led to the development of hugely diverse range of glacial features not commonly seen in such as small area’.

Rostrevor is great base to discover the region, full of friendly locals and a variety of pubs offering a warm welcome and a perfectly poured Guinness.

The Fairy Glen is a little stream that runs through the village to the lough and a pleasant stroll, to work off that Guiness.

Newcastle is great for day trips, I recommend a trek in Tollymore Forest park and lunch at the Percy French, a pub named after the Edwardian songwriter who penned the lyrics ‘Where the Mountains of Mourne’ sweep down to the sea.

Strangford Lough is another great destination, we rode bicycles around the Castle Ward estate home of several filming locations in the hit HBO drama ‘Game of Thrones’. I once wrote a travel article for the Washington Post on the theme of Game of Thrones and another for the Associated Press on the economic benefit the show brought to Northern Ireland.

I am thrilled with the news that my favourite region of Northern Ireland has secured UNECSO Geopark status and I hope to inspire your next staycation. #staycationinspiration

Note – all photos in this post were taken by me unless indicated othewise.