Walking Ireland’s Mountains
DONEGAL
Maps: all of Donegal is covered by 1:50,000 maps, all but one in the Discovery Series. Note also the National Park one-inch map, which is just about satisfactory for the small area it covers. One advantage it has over other maps is that it shows cliffs explicitly. Another is that it comes free with the small entrance charge to the National Park. Watch that its flimsy paper doesn't disintegrate in the rain.
Route 46: North Donegal- Errigal
Map 1 (1 :50,000), Discovery Series, or National Park map (one-inch).
Start on R251 at waymarked path west (B 940196), which begins 0.6 miles south-west of Altan Farm gates (named on pillar). This is one of several paths from R251, all of which merge. Take intermittent path in bogland, and later on east spur through scree slopes (here the path is clear and easily found) past Joey Glover memorial to nearby summit of Errigal (second summit is reached by short, narrow path). Retrace steps as far as prominent cairn, climb north-east to Mackoght. Walk to south-east corner of Altan Lough by descending east from Mackoght to avoid scree slopes both on its north side and south of the lough. Take track from south-east corner to R251. Walk can easily be extended to the Aghlas, route 48.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 850 metres. Time: 3.5 hours.
Route 47: North Donegal- Muckish
Map 2 (1 :50,000), Discovery Series.
Start at the end of the tarmac on side road off N56 (C 005305), reached by turning south-west off N56 close to graveyard and driving 3.5 miles. Walk to end of track, climb to loading bays and then ascend steeply on path (important to avoid steep slopes) to quarry. Turn towards quarry face and take path on left of quarry to plateau. From trig pillar on east of Muckish plateau (not shown on map), descend east (some scrambling may be avoided by walking plateau a little clockwise). Walk north-east to Crockatee. Climb hill directly north of Lough Akeo, continue north to reach bog road leading to tarmac. Turn left for start. In bad weather this route is for the experienced only. An easy direct up-and-down route starts at the shrine at Muckish Gap, which is south of Muckish plateau. Note that there are several large cairns on the plateau, so that the trig pillar is a reassuring landmark.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 650 metres. Time: 3.5 hours (including 0.5 hours for route-finding and steep descent).
Route 48: North Donegal - Aghlas
Map 1 and 6 (1:50,000), Discovery Series. RoI map 1 (half-inch) also satisfactory.
Start at fish farm gates near Procklis Lough (B 936255). To get there take road south from Falcarragh, fork left after 0.4 miles, right after 0.7 miles, left after further 2.5 miles and continue for further 0.8 miles. Walk road north to cross bridge, take track immediately right to nearby farm. Walk south-east to Lough Nabrackbaddy, climb Aghla Beg (564 metres/ 1,860 feet), point 603 metres/ 1,900 feet, and continue clockwise on high ground to Aghla More, descending initially north-west to avoid steep slopes on north-east and south-west sides. Cross river on stepping stones at outlet from Altan Lough and walk track/road to start.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 600 metres. Time: 3 hours.
Route 49: North Donegal- Derryveaghs
Map 1 (1 :50,000), Discovery Series, or National Park map (one-inch).
Start at prominent ruined church south of R251 at Dunlewy (B 929190). Walk south-east on track to nearby bridge, up¬stream on left (true) bank for one kilometre; climb Maumlack, descend south to Lough Beg, walk to Ballaghgeeha Gap (about B 955165), continue westwards to south of Poisoned Glen and south-westwards over high ground north-east of Slieve Snaght (escape possible northwards from high ground north-east of Slieve Snaght). Descend to Lough Slievesnaght (an easily identifiable landmark; other smaller lakes in this area are too similar to be useful); climb Slieve Snaght (large cairn). Descend steeply south-west to avoid cliffs to north, reaching Devlin River. Follow fight bank to bridge crossed near start.
Route can be shortened by ascending easy gully in Poisoned Glen as start. To reach gully, follow main stream to right-angle bend near steep ground and then climb to obvious notch ahead to emerge close to Lough Atirrive Big.
Distance: 15 kilometres. Climb: 1000 metres. Time: 5.5 hours (including 0.75 hours for negotiating low cliffs).
The next 'Donegal' extract can be found
here : Part 4
The previous 'Donegal' extracts from Walking Ireland's Mountains can be found here: Part 1 | Part 2
Information extracted from Walking Ireland’s Mountains: a guide to the ranges and the best walking routes by David Herman, published by Appletree Press.
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