Slieve Donard is a Hewitt of 850 m in Newry, Mourne and Down. It is the highest of the 8 register hills recorded in Newry, Mourne and Down; the next is Slieve Commedagh at 767 m, 83 m lower.
Nothing higher stands within 139.6 km; the nearest higher summit is Lugnaquillia Mountain (924.7 m), to the south. Its drop of 825 m is the 28th greatest of the 1,140 hills here. Only five of the register's Ireland hills are higher. It is also on the county tops list, as the highest point of its historic county. In the database's Mourne Mountains region it is the highest of eight register hills, above Slieve Commedagh and six others. The key col lies 32.6 km away to the north-west, at 25 m. Its drop is the 6th greatest among the Hewitts, behind Snowdon – Yr Wyddfa at the top. It overtops all four of its nearest neighbours; the tallest of them, Slieve Commedagh, reaches 767 m. All four of its nearest neighbours lie to the west, so it stands at the eastern edge of its group.
