Cloughmore, Granite boulder in Rostrevor, Northern Ireland.
Cloughmore is a granite boulder resting on the slope of Slieve Martin above the village of Rostrevor in County Down, Northern Ireland. The block sits openly on the hillside and stands out clearly against the surrounding slate rock.
During the last Ice Age, glaciers carried this granite block from Scotland and left it on the mountainside in County Down. It ended up far from its place of origin, carried across what is now the Irish Sea.
The name Cloughmore comes from the Irish words meaning "big stone", which is exactly what visitors see when they arrive. Local legend says the boulder was thrown across the water from Scotland by the giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a story still repeated today.
The boulder is reached by marked trails through Kilbroney Park, and the walk involves a moderate uphill climb. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the path can get slippery after rain.
The granite of Cloughmore is a completely different type of rock from the slate found throughout the mountain around it. A close look at the surface reveals a coarser, lighter-colored texture that sets it apart from everything nearby.
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