Exploring the Blue Lough and Ben Crom

When people ask for recommendations for their first ventures into the Mourne Mountains, there is one route that immediately comes to mind. The walk along the Annalong Valley via the Blue Lough is a classic introduction to the area, offering expansive views of Slieve Lamagan and Slieve Binnian before opening out to a stunning vista across Ben Crom Reservoir toward Slieve Bearnagh. The valley itself is a wide, open corridor, framed by towering granite peaks and punctuated by landmarks such as the iconic Blue Lough. At roughly 10km out-and-back, it’s a rewarding walk that remains accessible to most walkers.

Ben Crom and the Blue Lough

The accompanying video was captured in 4K using the DJI Mavic Air. Seeing the Annalong Valley from above adds an entirely new dimension, particularly in terms of scale. Distances that feel substantial on foot appear almost compressed from the air, highlighting just how dramatically perspective changes when you gain altitude.

My goal was to capture the clouds as they rolled over Ben Crom and Slieve Bearnagh, and I was impressed by how well the Mavic Air handled the conditions. Even in blustery winds, the drone hovered steadily and compensated smoothly. While it’s certainly not a substitute for long-exposure photography, it proved more than capable of producing footage with a subtle time-lapse feel as the cloud movement unfolded.

The still images featured in this post were captured either directly with the DJI Mavic Air or with the Fujifilm X100F. I experimented with a few panoramic shots using the Fujifilm X100F, but the fast-moving clouds caused rapid changes in light, resulting in noticeable vertical banding during the sweep panoramas. The stills captured with the Mavic Air were processed using my DJI Lightroom Presets, allowing me to better balance highlights and shadows across the scene.

The Blue Lough

The Blue Lough was a staple of our family summer walks for years. It’s an easy and enjoyable stroll, passing through Annalong Forest before emerging beneath Slieve Lamagan and leading gently up to the lough itself. Popular with wild swimmers, the water often reflects a deep blue sky along with the granite faces of Lamagan and Binnian, making it one of the most photogenic spots in the Mournes.

I had actually attempted this walk just a few weeks earlier, but a thick blanket of fog refused to lift. Visibility was non-existent from the moment we left the car park until our return. You can get a sense of just how dense the fog was in this video: Forest Fog with the DJI Mavic Air.

The Blue Lough along the Annalong Valley

Ben Crom Reservoir

Ben Crom Reservoir supplies water to County Down and much of County Antrim, including Belfast. Construction of the mass gravity dam took place between 1953 and 1957. Ben Crom Mountain (526m) rises sharply above the reservoir, forming a dramatic skyline as you reach the end of the Annalong Valley. This area is also geologically significant, marking the point where Eocene aplitic granite meets the laccolith top of the older Mesozoic granite ring dyke.

Slieve Binnian Loop

One of my favourite hikes in the Mournes starts from Carrick Little car park, following the Mourne Wall to the summit of Slieve Binnian. The descent offers superb views back toward Slieve Lamagan, Ben Crom, and Slieve Bearnagh, making it a consistently rewarding route. You can read more about the Slieve Binnian Loop here.

Note:

Suggested routes and destinations are provided for information only and are undertaken at your own risk. Always take appropriate precautions when heading into the mountains, be prepared for rapidly changing weather, and ensure you have suitable equipment. It’s also wise to let someone know your intended route before setting out.

Links

The Mourne Mountain Gallery 
Tiffen Pro Mist Filter [Ad]
FlixelPix Instagram 
Five Essential Accessories for the Fujifilm X100VI