Before your visit
- Start
- Start at Silent Valley Mountain Park through the main gates on Head Road, Kilkeel. Vehicle access leads to the car park at the southern end of the grounds; continue towards Ben Crom on foot.
- Distance
- The published Ben Crom Dam Walk is 10 km for the outward journey and return together. It follows the tarmac road up the valley rather than a circuit around the reservoir.
- Terrain and access
- The tarmac approach and the climb onto the dam are separate sections. The operator’s leaflet shows a separate stair climb to the top of Ben Crom dam. A visit along the road does not make the dam-top stairs accessible to a wheelchair or pushchair.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead under Silent Valley’s visitor rules.
- Toilets
- Plan toilet stops at Silent Valley before setting out. Its visitor information lists accessible toilets; no toilet at the far Ben Crom dam is identified here.
- Refreshments
- Bring what you need for the return walk. Silent Valley has a café listing, but check its current opening and do not rely on refreshments at Ben Crom.
- Access
- Follow NI Water’s barriers and notices. Swimming, diving and paddleboarding are prohibited. Check current park information and entry charges before travelling.
Checked 9 October 2026. NI Water: Silent Valley trails · NI Water: current Silent Valley visitor information · NI Water: Silent Valley leaflet · Official tourism: Silent Valley Mountain Park · NI Water: reservoir safety reminder
For current opening, charges and access, check the operator before travelling. Bring what you need rather than relying on refreshments being open.
Ben Crom sits above Silent Valley in the upper Kilkeel River valley. Completed in 1957, its concrete gravity dam holds back the water through the weight of the structure.
A return walk from Silent Valley follows the tarmac road to Ben Crom. Seeing both reservoirs brings two chapters of the Mourne water-supply story into one day; allow enough time for the journey back.
- Completed
- 1957
- Dam type
- Concrete gravity dam
What to look out for
- Concrete gravity-dam engineering
- Upper Kilkeel valley setting
- Connection with the Silent Valley visitor approach
Find your bearings
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗See where this place sits in the Mourne landscape before planning your visit.
From the coast to the high ground.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Map data & privacy
Loading the map connects to OpenStreetMap. Pins show locations, not a walking route or permission to enter.
Plan your visit
Start with NI Water’s current visitor and trail information and allow for the full return. Follow barriers and signs; swimming and other water activities are prohibited.
Visitor information & access →
Sources & further reading
Checked 2026-10-08: NI Water · NI Water Ben Crom engineering record · NI Water current park information · NI Water reservoir safety guidance.