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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Western Mournes Lowlands, Drumlins and Moraines | Down |
| Site number: | 757 | ||
| Locality Type: | Inland exposure | Status: | local interest |
| Grid Reference: | J129222,J145192 Corners of site | ||
| Google maps: | 54.13693,-6.27261 | ||
| County: | Down | Council area: | Newry, Mourne & Down District Council |
| Period: | Quaternary | ||
| Stages: | Late Midlandian | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Highlights: | |
The lowlands directly southwest of the Mournes from Burren [J129 222] in the west to Rostrevor in the east and Warrenpoint in the south [J145 192] are characterised by southeastward trending drumlins related to a period of Late Midlandian fast ice flow into Carlingford Lough. The lower slopes and inter-drumlin areas are marked by chaotically distributed hummocks and enclosed depressions. | |
| Description: | |
The Western Mournes Lowlands are characterised by drumlins with numerous poorly-aligned hummocks and enclosed depressions on their lower slopes and in intervening lows. Drumlins have a consistent long axis orientation towards the southeast. Long axes are 500-800m and short axes are 300-500m in length. Morphology is generally of the classic type although long profiles are frequently slightly undulating. A drumlin at Ballyrussell [J151 215) is slightly arcuate. An exposure in the lower central slopes of a drumlin at Drumesk [J167 193] contains vaguely stratified sandy gravel and massive diamict. Drumlins are evidence of fast ice flow which streamlined the deformable, water-laden sediment substrate and may have resulted from marine downdraw by the Carlingford ice-stream. Inter-drumlin hummocks are low (<5m high), rounded to oval in plan, closely spaced, occasionally connected and are generally non-aligned. They are frequently separated by small enclosed depressions. These are kettleholes and vary from 0.2ha to 2.5ha in size. An exposure in a hummock on the flank of a drumlin [J143 216] consists of chaotic, poorly-sorted and mainly angular to subangular pebbles to small boulders in a coarse sand matrix. The spatial organisation and internal structure of hummocks is consistent with inverted disintegration topography at a stagnant ice margin. | |
| Importance: | |
The drumlins of the Western Mournes Lowlands are of local scientific significance as they contribute to the reconstruction of local deglacial events. | |
| Notes: | |
The area includes several raths and megalithic monuments. See also the following ESCR sites: Key Site 450 - Western Mournes Complex - Overview Key Site 458 - Western Mournes Complex - Western lowlands, drumlins and moraines | |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Rocks: | Diamict, Gravel, Sand |
| Relations: | Glacial streamlining, Ice stagnation |
| Geomorph: | kettle-hole, drumlins |
| Paleoenv: | glacial |
| Access | |
|---|---|
| Approach: | This site is located directly southwest of the Mourne Mountains, stretching from Burren [J129 222] south to Warrenpoint [J145 192]. |
| Record type: | SLNCI Report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Last updated: | 09/10/03 | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Western Mournes Lowlands, Drumlins and Moraines, County Down, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=757. Accessed on 2026-11-07. |
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