Walking Club
Report: Easter Weekend in Donegal
By Robin Lee
After several months in the planning we completed another successful annual weekend away last weekend. The club has been in the habit of making trips away to Wales, England and Scotland over the Easter weekend in recent years, but this year, on the inspiration of Eugene Stephens our Social Secretary, we turned our attentions towards Donegal and its renowned rugged terrain. What a choice it turned out to be. Fifty of our members took off for the northern County at various times on the approach to the weekend, some breaking the journey to our destination, and taking in walks on Croagh Patrick in Mayo and Benbulben in Sligo on the way.
Generally one associates Croagh Patrick with the Pilgrimage Walk held on the last Sunday each July, and the weather that you might expect at that time of year. Last Thursday was quite different. The recent snow falls in the north of the country had reached south Mayo leaving all of the ranges in that area with attractive snow caps, including Croagh Patrick. The ascent was glorious, added to by the clear bright day that accompanied our climb. On reaching the summit there was a soft carpet of deep snow that provided the younger folk that had made it to the top with ample material to make their snowmen – an unusual pastime for this place of devotion! To the north we had the spectacle of Clew Bay with the backdrop of the Nephin Mountains whilst to the south we had the veritable pageant of the Sheffry Range, all wonderfully snow clad on top.
Benbulben, as it overlooks Yeats’ resting place at Drumcliff, is always tantalizing as one travels north from Sligo. However it always seems to be on the “to do” list; until last weekend that is. It is only when you get into the base of the mountain that you appreciate just how high it is (650M), and how steep the incline. Nonetheless taken at a sensible pace it is eminently achievable. The reward is unique, especially when you get the weather and clarity of view that we had on Thursday. Sligo Bay and the Ox Mountains rested below us to the south while Donegal Bay with the natural harbour of Killybegs was easily identifiable to the north.
By Friday afternoon most of our party had arrived at our destination at Errigal Hostel in Dunlewy. The spring weather that greeted us on our arrival, however, quickly turned wet and windy as we set out on our ascent of Mt Errigal (750M) the highest point in Donegal. Unfortunately these conditions did not improve, so what promised to be an exciting walk with full views of the northern coastline and the Glenveigh Nature Park did not materialize. Nonetheless everyone is to be congratulated on achieving the summit in the conditions that prevailed, especially one of our company who suffers from impaired vision.
Two walks were scheduled for Saturday. An “A” walk was led from Dunlewy by Eugene Stephens. Eugene is well acquainted with this country and applied all of his knowledge and considerable skills into taking charge of this walk through The Poisoned Glen and on to the multitude and not inconsiderable rises that compose this part of the Derryveagh Range. This is rugged and tough terrain. It is the real test of an “A” standard walker. This test was applied on Saturday. While we started and finished in rain, the weather, for the most part was excellent. The twenty participating walkers soon settled into a level pace that took us sufficiently high to observe the views that were denied to us on the previous afternoon. The vast expanse of Glenveigh National Park that plays host to so many species of endangered wildlife and extends to some eleven thousand hectares, spread out beneath us. Further away we could pick out the familiar sounding landmarks of Bloody Foreland, Tory Island and Malin Head. Our loop back to the Dunlewy brought us by the southern boundary of the Guinness Estate to the hospitality of the Hostel after nine hours “on the hoof”.
Further north from Dunlewy Robin Lee led the “B” walk along and over the shores of Lough Salt. You might pass over this walk as being insignificant on a first look at the map. It is a different matter when you step it out. Twenty eight turned out for this walk. We got stiff cold wind, but otherwise fine weather as we ascended Loughsalt Mountain (469M). All the while breathtaking views were opening up around us – Mulroy Bay, Lough Swilly, the flat top of Muckish Mountain, and the jagged outline of the Fanad peninsula. It is unusual for us to get such a combination of views that Loughsalt Mountain has to offer. It will long remain etched on our minds as one of the special experiences of the weekend. Throughout the walk we had to negotiate an amount of snow that was a new experience for some of us. We reached the end of this walk, somewhat reluctantly, after four hours of splendid and enjoyable walking.
On Sunday our sister club, The Blue Stack Ramblers kindly invited us to join with them on two walks that were planned for Slieve Sneacht. The idea was to traverse that part of the Poisoned Glen that led to the base of this mountain, the second highest in Donegal, and to split the group there. The more adventurous headed off with Vincent Brennan on a longer route to the top while those seeking a less demanding pace stayed with Mike Moroney on a shorter, but nonetheless demanding ascent to the top. This walk offered everything none the least of which was the obstinate reappearance of drifts of snow that had to be negotiated. Occasionally the weather threatened to come in on us, but stood off at the last moment disappearing to the south and east and leaving us in bright clear but cold conditions. The first sights of the wild deer keeping us under close attention, the birds of prey overhead (no Golden Eagle unfortunately) and the miscellany of other wildlife in this barren territory soon became commonplace. It is difficult to express the freedom you feel in these surroundings; everything else seems to be light years away! It was possible to pick out the outline of Benbulben to the south, and the Mourne Mountains to the east such was clarity of the day. Our companions from the Blue Stack Ramblers guided us faultlessly over this magnificent mountain and down to the safety of our transport in the Glen. We had now completed a truly wonderful weekend of walking in some of the most spectacular country, and amongst the friendliest people you could wish for.
Next Sunday is a very special day for one of our members as she departs for Haiti to contribute to the relief effort after the devastating earthquake there. Renee O’Dwyer is devoting her time and professional nursing skills in this wonderful cause. Those of us that were in Donegal created a fund for her to bring with her to assist in the relief. If anyone else is anxious to participate in any small way they might contact Renee on 087 1259465 before she departs.
Our walks for next weekend are a strenuous “A” walk from Cush Car Park – Pat Hevenor (087) 6403050 – at 10.00 a m; a “B” walk from Kilfinane – Deirdre Fitzpatrick (063) 91225 – at 11.00 a m and a Skills Walk from Coumbawn Wood at 10.30 a m – Denis Bates (086) 8047570.
After several months in the planning we completed another successful annual weekend away last weekend. The club has been in the habit of making trips away to Wales, England and Scotland over the Easter weekend in recent years, but this year, on the inspiration of Eugene Stephens our Social Secretary, we turned our attentions towards Donegal and its renowned rugged terrain. What a choice it turned out to be. Fifty of our members took off for the northern County at various times on the approach to the weekend, some breaking the journey to our destination, and taking in walks on Croagh Patrick in Mayo and Benbulben in Sligo on the way.
Generally one associates Croagh Patrick with the Pilgrimage Walk held on the last Sunday each July, and the weather that you might expect at that time of year. Last Thursday was quite different. The recent snow falls in the north of the country had reached south Mayo leaving all of the ranges in that area with attractive snow caps, including Croagh Patrick. The ascent was glorious, added to by the clear bright day that accompanied our climb. On reaching the summit there was a soft carpet of deep snow that provided the younger folk that had made it to the top with ample material to make their snowmen – an unusual pastime for this place of devotion! To the north we had the spectacle of Clew Bay with the backdrop of the Nephin Mountains whilst to the south we had the veritable pageant of the Sheffry Range, all wonderfully snow clad on top.
Benbulben, as it overlooks Yeats’ resting place at Drumcliff, is always tantalizing as one travels north from Sligo. However it always seems to be on the “to do” list; until last weekend that is. It is only when you get into the base of the mountain that you appreciate just how high it is (650M), and how steep the incline. Nonetheless taken at a sensible pace it is eminently achievable. The reward is unique, especially when you get the weather and clarity of view that we had on Thursday. Sligo Bay and the Ox Mountains rested below us to the south while Donegal Bay with the natural harbour of Killybegs was easily identifiable to the north.
By Friday afternoon most of our party had arrived at our destination at Errigal Hostel in Dunlewy. The spring weather that greeted us on our arrival, however, quickly turned wet and windy as we set out on our ascent of Mt Errigal (750M) the highest point in Donegal. Unfortunately these conditions did not improve, so what promised to be an exciting walk with full views of the northern coastline and the Glenveigh Nature Park did not materialize. Nonetheless everyone is to be congratulated on achieving the summit in the conditions that prevailed, especially one of our company who suffers from impaired vision.
Two walks were scheduled for Saturday. An “A” walk was led from Dunlewy by Eugene Stephens. Eugene is well acquainted with this country and applied all of his knowledge and considerable skills into taking charge of this walk through The Poisoned Glen and on to the multitude and not inconsiderable rises that compose this part of the Derryveagh Range. This is rugged and tough terrain. It is the real test of an “A” standard walker. This test was applied on Saturday. While we started and finished in rain, the weather, for the most part was excellent. The twenty participating walkers soon settled into a level pace that took us sufficiently high to observe the views that were denied to us on the previous afternoon. The vast expanse of Glenveigh National Park that plays host to so many species of endangered wildlife and extends to some eleven thousand hectares, spread out beneath us. Further away we could pick out the familiar sounding landmarks of Bloody Foreland, Tory Island and Malin Head. Our loop back to the Dunlewy brought us by the southern boundary of the Guinness Estate to the hospitality of the Hostel after nine hours “on the hoof”.
Further north from Dunlewy Robin Lee led the “B” walk along and over the shores of Lough Salt. You might pass over this walk as being insignificant on a first look at the map. It is a different matter when you step it out. Twenty eight turned out for this walk. We got stiff cold wind, but otherwise fine weather as we ascended Loughsalt Mountain (469M). All the while breathtaking views were opening up around us – Mulroy Bay, Lough Swilly, the flat top of Muckish Mountain, and the jagged outline of the Fanad peninsula. It is unusual for us to get such a combination of views that Loughsalt Mountain has to offer. It will long remain etched on our minds as one of the special experiences of the weekend. Throughout the walk we had to negotiate an amount of snow that was a new experience for some of us. We reached the end of this walk, somewhat reluctantly, after four hours of splendid and enjoyable walking.
On Sunday our sister club, The Blue Stack Ramblers kindly invited us to join with them on two walks that were planned for Slieve Sneacht. The idea was to traverse that part of the Poisoned Glen that led to the base of this mountain, the second highest in Donegal, and to split the group there. The more adventurous headed off with Vincent Brennan on a longer route to the top while those seeking a less demanding pace stayed with Mike Moroney on a shorter, but nonetheless demanding ascent to the top. This walk offered everything none the least of which was the obstinate reappearance of drifts of snow that had to be negotiated. Occasionally the weather threatened to come in on us, but stood off at the last moment disappearing to the south and east and leaving us in bright clear but cold conditions. The first sights of the wild deer keeping us under close attention, the birds of prey overhead (no Golden Eagle unfortunately) and the miscellany of other wildlife in this barren territory soon became commonplace. It is difficult to express the freedom you feel in these surroundings; everything else seems to be light years away! It was possible to pick out the outline of Benbulben to the south, and the Mourne Mountains to the east such was clarity of the day. Our companions from the Blue Stack Ramblers guided us faultlessly over this magnificent mountain and down to the safety of our transport in the Glen. We had now completed a truly wonderful weekend of walking in some of the most spectacular country, and amongst the friendliest people you could wish for.
Next Sunday is a very special day for one of our members as she departs for Haiti to contribute to the relief effort after the devastating earthquake there. Renee O’Dwyer is devoting her time and professional nursing skills in this wonderful cause. Those of us that were in Donegal created a fund for her to bring with her to assist in the relief. If anyone else is anxious to participate in any small way they might contact Renee on 087 1259465 before she departs.
Our walks for next weekend are a strenuous “A” walk from Cush Car Park – Pat Hevenor (087) 6403050 – at 10.00 a m; a “B” walk from Kilfinane – Deirdre Fitzpatrick (063) 91225 – at 11.00 a m and a Skills Walk from Coumbawn Wood at 10.30 a m – Denis Bates (086) 8047570.
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