MountainViews: Info on Errigal An Earagail (751m) in area Donegal NW

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Donegal NW Area Derryveagh Mountains Subarea

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Maximum height for area: 751 metres

Summits in area: 54

OS Map(s): 1, 10, 11, 12, 2, 6 for all tops

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Errigal Mountain	Donegal County
An Earagail A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. An Earagail [DUPN], poss. 'oratory')
Height: 751 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 1 for top
Grid Ref: B92826 20778	Latitude: 55.034340 Longitude: -8.112983
ITM: 592777 920762	Prominence: 688m Isolation: 1.4km
Errigal is well-known for the pinkish glow of its quartzite in the setting sun. It is located on the boundary of four townlands: Beltany Mountain, Dunlewy Near, Procklis, Money More. Despite the name, there are no known remains of an oratory. It ma Errigal is the highest mountain in the Donegal NW area and the 76th highest in Ireland. Errigal is the highest point in county Donegal. Our data has reached 100% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Errigal ..

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Errigal in area Donegal NW, County Donegal, Ireland

Picture: Errigal from the summit of Mackoght Expand pics.

Iconic quartzite summit dominating the view in the North West.

Short Summary created by simon3, CaptainVertigo, jackill, Harry Goodman 6 Oct 2012 Park in the car park at B94291 19734 (Point A).From the car park corner you can follow a wet track on either side of the stream up to the col between Errigal and Mackoght. Just after a large cairn at B94151 20379 (Point B) turn left and follow a now rocky track up Errigal. The path is narrow and steep in places but never dangerously so. There are two summits which appear to the eye to be about the same height however the first, more easterly top, is the accepted high point on the mountain. As these twin rocky caps are only about 30 - 40 metres apart it is very easy to continue along the short "one man's path"to the second top. It is also possible to climb Errigal from the north (see super gerrym vid on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvH0QJjLeOg&feature=youtu.be) by parking near Procklis at B933252 (Point C) on the minor road which runs south from Falcarragh and taking the track due south. At the end of the track continue on up the hillside to a high flat stony shoulder before tackling the steep rocky ridge to the summit. On the way up there is an interesting circular opening on the path through the rocks known as "the keyhole". Return with care by way of ascent or if two cars are available complete a linear walk by descending from the summit down the ridge and then steep stony track to the car park at B9429119734 (Point A)..
On a clear day the views towards Muckish,Tory Island, Bloody Foreland, Slieve Snaght are truly amongst the best in Ireland.

Point A: B94291 19734	Point B: B94151 20379	Point C: B933 252
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Comment Rating (4.00)

Picture: Mighty Errigal from the south Expand pics.

The sun sets on County Top pursuit

by wicklore 23 Jun 2010 Just like csd did recently from Corn Hill, this is also a live post. I am at the summit of Errigal, and I am celebrating reaching the last of the County Tops. Errigal also marks my 300th summit logged on MountainViews. I have been really looking forward to this trip! Originally I intended to climb it tomorrow (Saturday) but time pressure meant that on arrival from Dublin I hopped out of the car this evening and headed straight for the top.

I used the tourist trail to ascend Errigal starting at the car park at B94291 19734 (Point A). It took about 75 minutes and the trail first led towards the col between Errigal and Mackoght. The track was quite dry and the boggy bits were easily avoided. Just after a large cairn at B94151 20379 (Point B) I headed directly for the slopes of Errigal. This section is over rocky ground and the path narrows in places on the steep ground. However even though the hillside drops away each side of the path in places it didn't feel dangerously steep.

Arriving at the summit I was presented with the panorama of views described by others. This is my first hike in Donegal so these views are all new to me. Because it is late in the evening now (8pm) I have Errigal to myself. I'm thinking back to all the previous County Tops I have climbed. Big, small, remote, busy, ugly, pristine, silly or breathtaking - all had their own character and appeal, and all were different. And now here on Errigal as the sun starts to set, so too it is setting on my County Tops pursuit. And no better mountain to finish it on than Errigal. It is a wonderful hill that captures many of the most common attributes of an Irish mountain. It is boggy and rocky, heathery and bare, steep and gradual, accessible and challenging and it is rugged and and smooth. Errigal stands out both physically and in reputation. This evening is my first time to climb this mountain, but it certainly won't be my last!

Point A: B94291 19734

Point B: B94151 20379

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(Comment Rating 4.36) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by eoin 4 Mar 2003 From the road on the south side the ascent is a little boggy at the bottom (stay to the right of the river until you get close to the base). The rest of the route is straightforward, well-worn and rocky up to a small cairn and memorial to Joey Glover. The final ridge narrows to a small summit with a second summit (1 metre lower!!) across an exposed path 20 metres away. This peak is often cloud covered but I've done it dozens of times over the years and it is always inspiring (views or not). It is a short walk - straight up and back down (1.5 hours) but there are several variations and approaches with a little investigation of the map and depending on your love for steep ground!

(Comment Rating 3.87) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: The Death Defing Ridge Expand pics.

Climbing alone in Hurricane Katia (Scary)

by Samo 1 Oct 2011 I climbed Mt.Errigal on 12/09/11 contending with the remnants of hurricane Katia. Probably the craziest thing I've ever done (and that's saying something!) especially as I did it alone. I'm pretty certain I was the only lunatic to climb the mountain this day. It was no suprise that I didn't see any other walkers on my climb. There were winds of up to 76mph recorded around Northern Ireland that day, but they would have been recorded at lower levels. I would love to know what the wind speed was at the summit of Errigal because it was noticably more powerful up there. The mountain was shrouded in mist and cloud so visibility was poor.

I had been planning to climb it on this day for a few months and was returning to London the next day so couldn't postpone it and I wasn't going to let a little wind ruin my day! I set off from the car park across some really boggy heathland. It had rained everyday for the week I was in N.Ireland and today was no different. I thought about calling it off as I had already stepped into a bog almost knee deep and my feet were muddy and drenched - but didn't want to quit so soon, so onwards I climbed! The gusts of winds increased in strength as I reached the scree part of the mountain, not only was I walking uphill, I was walking into 80mph+ head winds which made it more tiring. I had to drop to the floor and hug the ground every time a strong gust pushed me.

I began to realise how dangerous this really was. When I got to the ridge near the top (pictured) that dropped off both sides, I sat on the ground for a few miutes clinging to a boulder and seriously thought about turning back, even though I was only 25m from the summit. The wind was howling constantly from left to right over the ridge and I knew one gust could push me over and I would be a gonner. I had come to far to turn back though and Im not ashamed to say I crawled over the ridge on all fours. Yes, I made it, I stayed at the top only long enough to take a picture of myself as I was tired, wet, freezing and aching. I crawled back over the ridge and started my descent which felt more dangerous than the climb as the wind was now pushing me in the back as well as gravity pulling me down. The gusts were forcing me to run and knocking me off my feet, literally. Lots more floor hugging on the way down.

At only 750 meters, the conditions made it harder than mountains I've climbed at over 4000m but a great sense achievement was felt once I got back to the safety of the car.

(Comment Rating 3.81) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by zeaphod 1 Jul 2004 The scree on the upper path has become ground down to quite small pieces in the past few years, making it treacherous in wet conditions. Best walked in a round with Beaghy and Mackoght, making a short but rewarding approx 10k walk. Start at the Lough Altan track, then head for Beaghy from it's highest point (v.boggy if wet). Head almost straight for Mackought then Errigal, return via col and back to the elbow in the Altan track.

(Comment Rating 3.80) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Errigal from Moylenanav Expand pics.

by gerrym 26 Nov 2005 Climbed 21.11.05 basing the route on that in David Hermans excellent Hillwalkers Donegal (an essential read for anyone walking in Donegal). Parked beside Procklis Lough (936256 (Point D)) where three herons were doing a spot of fishing. Followed the road S and took the rough track heading towards the distant Errigal. As rise Atlan Lough and the steep flank of Aghla More comes into better view. An hour brought me to some steeper climbing to reach the scree covered apron at the base of the climb to the summit. This only left around 1000 ft but my legs had renewed vigour with the prospect of what was to come. There is a short stiff climb over scree until reach more solid rock, which is rapidly on its way to becoming the scree below. I had a clear blue sky for company, with a constant procession of transatlantic jets making thier way to and from America. The climb brought me to a delightful "window" of rock followed by some scrambling to reach the summit, where I emerged from the shadows into brilliant sunshine and brilliant views onto the two tops of Errigal. The 2.5 hours were well worth the vista of loughs and hills, light and shade, brown and blue. Within view I had misty valleys, dark rock rising from a spectral ocean and sharply defined high ground covering Donegal and beyond. I could easily see the Bluestacks, Slievetooey, Slieve League and beyond to the sharp nose of Benbulbin. In the immediate vicinity the deep void of the Poisoned Glen was in drak shadow and looked a foreboding place. The descent was pretty straightforward, might not be too great in wet weather. I continued to Macknoght and then over the three Aghlas and back to the car at Procklis Lough. It felt absolutely fantastic to be at the top of Errigal in November, wearing short sleeves in the sunshine and having such a spectacular amount of varied and interesting landscape laid out before me. I met only one other person on this walk - walk during the week!

Point D: B936 256

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