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Walking Ireland’s Mountains

DONEGAL

Route 53: Central Donegal
Map 11 (1 :50,000), Discovery Series.
Start a few metres along track (B 890005). To get there take R250 along length of Lough Finn, turn first left onto track. Walk track east to first house. Turn right here to climb in or near deep gully. Continue directly to Aghla Mountain (593 metres), whose trig pillar in area of numerous rocky hillocks is especially useful. Keep to high ground past Castle Lough to Knockrawer. Descend north to cross river and reach road just south-west of road junction. Take road about 1.5 kilo¬metres north-east to start.
Distance: 8 kilometres. Climb: 500 metres. Time: 2.5 hours.

Route 54: Slieve League
Map 10 (1:50,000), Discovery Series.
Start at Bunglass car park (G 558757), ignoring signpost "Slieve League" at Teelin. Walk path along clifftop over Keeringear (mild scrambling avoidable by veering right) to reach east summit of Slieve League (cairn). Cross arete at One Man's Pass to reach main summit (trig pillar). Re-cross this arete to reach east summit and here descend east to oratory and wells. Take track and road to start.
Distance: 12 kilometres. Climb: 600 metres. Time: 4 hours (including 0.5 hours for scrambling and rough ground).

Route 55: Rossaun - Glengesh Map 10 (1:50,000), Discovery Series. Start at road junction (at G 7146884) 0.7 miles south-west of Common Bridge. Walk side road south-west to farm, climb Common Mountain. Descend south-west spur and keep forest on left to cross road near top of pass, climb Croaghavehy, Glengesh Hill (indistinct top). Descend east, pick up driveway at two adjacent ruins to reach start (though exact route not critical).
Distance: 11 kilometres. Climb: 750 metres. Time: 3.5 hours.

Route 56: Blue Stacks
Map 11 (1:50,000), Discovery Series.
Start at end of tarmac on side road off road circling Lough Eske (G 972870). (This side road is also route of Donegal Way, not shown on map.) Walk two kilometres north along Donegal Way to outlet stream from Lough Belshade; walk rough path to lake along right (true) bank, walk north-east side of lake, climb point 641 metres (note landmark of Lough Aduff directly to east). Continue along high ground to south-west, climbing point 642 metres and passing prominent quartz outcrop one kilometre to its south-west, to reach point 674 metres (trig pillar, shelter). Walk east, then south-east to Lough Gulladuff to avoid steep ground south of point 674 metres. Descend close to gorge near Lough Gulladuff to meet Donegal Way. Difficult navigation. See general description of Blue Stacks above to evaluate.
Distance: 12 kilometres. Climb: 700 metres. Time: 4.25 hours (including 0.75 hours for difficult terrain).

The final 'Donegal' extract can be found here : Part 6
The previous 'Donegal' extracts from Walking Ireland's Mountains can be found here: Part 1 |< Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

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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