Picture from group : Slieve League cliffs from Bunglas upper car park
Picture: Slieve League cliffs from Bunglas upper car park
Pass if you dare
Short Summary created by mcrtchly 2 Dec 2010
Due to the popularity of the cliff walk to Slieve League there are problems of path erosion and the small capacity of the car park at Bunglas. These issues have been addressed by the building of a new lower car park and the request that walkers follow the route in a clockwise circuit from the lower car park and return via the Pilgrim's Path.G57130 75560 (Point A) . From here follow the road for 1.5km to the upper car park at G55834 75690 (Point B) . In winter it might be possible to park here. The path from the upper car park leads along the top of the cliffs to Cnoc Ramhar. On the next section of the route there is a sharp 100m long rock arête at G5565 77553. Some writers have called this arete the One Man's Path. The arête can be climbed but should be treated with caution in wind or wet conditions. A rope would be advisable for the inexperienced as there is 450m drop on the left. Alternatively there is a by-pass along a path to the right. The final section of the route leads via a large plateau and then to a narrow section (known as One Man's Pass) to the summit of Slieve League.G55293 78037 (Point C) . Follow the Pilgrim's Path as it descends towards the valley passing the ruins of St. Assicus's Oratory. After crossing a bridge over a river at G57910 76856 (Point D) turn sharp right and then right again and follow the road back to the car park.
Point A: G57130 75560
Point B: G55834 75690
Point C: G55293 78037
Point D: G57910 76856
Comment Rating (5.00)
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/5045/
Picture from murphysw : The Arete which is generally regarded as the One Man's Pass
Picture: The Arete which is generally regarded as the One Man's Pass
by murphysw 18 Jul 2005
On the Monday after I had climbed Lavagh More, I decided to tackle Sliabh League. The main reason for this was to experience the famous 'One Man's Pass' (more on this later!). The day was perfect for climbing, clear and not a breath in the air. I parked at Bunglass and started off. It has to be said at the outset that this is an exceptionally busy mountain. I started late in the day, and it was still as busy as the Great Sugar Loaf. It was also very walker damaged. Nonetheless, nothing can take away from the views, which are simply breathtaking. I also found it quite a slog, but then again i'm not the fittest, although the summit is quite a distance from Bunglass to be fair! The summit is unremarkable, simply an extension of the walk with a broken trig pillar. The main attractions are the Eagle's Nest and One Man's Pass. The Eagle's Nest is blatantly obvious and a spectacular sight but there seems to be a bit of ambiguity about One Man's Pass. One candidate is an arete about 300-400m long with very steep but not vertical drops on either side. Its marked by a path which has been gouged into it by wakers feet and is about 5 feet wide on average. I wouldn't try it on a windy day but its not very intimidating. The other candidate is a rib of solid rock which is situated on the ridge. I missed it on the way up because I stayed below the ridge but on the way down it presented me with the fright of my life! Its about 50 feet long and is no wider than a yard. I slid down it on my backside with my heart wedged firmly in my throat. I ran into a group of local hillwakers on the down who didn't seem to perturbed by it. Mike Harding in his 'Footloose in the West of Ireland' (London 1996) says about the pass, " A yard wide at its narrowest point and about forty foot long, I would like suckers on my feet before I crossed it on anything but the stillest day". So he seems to regard the narrow rib of rock as the pass. Joss Lynam in Best Irish Walks (Dublin 2001) notes that most maps regard the wide arete as the Pass but goes on to say that "a short rib of rock north of Crockrower can claim to be the truer 'One Man's Pass'". The O.S. on sheet 10 certainly gives the credit to the arete, as does David Herman in 'Hill Walkers Atlantic Ireland' (Dublin 1999) who calls the arete "a narrow level path with steep grassy slopes on both sides". The Lonely Planet guide to Walking in Ireland (Victoria 2003) says, "the pass is an arete about 1.5m wide, with steep but not vertiginous drops on either side. There is also a rocky knife edge on the way to the first summit from Bunglass, which could be described as a one man's pass". I would love to know which is actually regarded as the real One Man's Pass generally.(Comment Rating 3.71)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/1811/
Picture from gerrym : aahhh!!!
Picture: aahhh!!!
by gerrym 8 Sep 2007
The approach to Slieve League is quite an experience before even start walking, the road twists and turns, with big unprotected drops down into the Atlantic below. The carpark (557757 (Point E) ) gives a fantastic vista of the steep high sea cliffs and the walk to come, with great views out over Donegal Bay. 666784 (Point F) ) - from here it is a steep drop down towards sheep pens and the Old Mans track. Follow the track to the road and turn L uphill, this joins the road to Bunglass, turn R and are back at the carpark after 50 minutes of road walking. Absolutely fantastic days walking and as was during the week there were only a few cars in the carpark. It is worthwhile heading down to the signal tower at 563748 (Point G) .
Point E: G557 757
Point F: G666 784
Point G: G563 748
(Comment Rating 3.70)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/2289/
Picture from darrenf : One Mans Pass
Picture: One Mans Pass
One Mans Pass
by darrenf 22 Sep 2010
Having read so much about Slieve League and the infamous one mans pass, it was on top of my list on a recent trip to Donegal. We started from the carpark at Bunglass 557757 - for those not interested in walking a trip to the carpark alone is a must as the viewpoints offer stunning views across the cliffs and seascape.(Comment Rating 3.67)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/6103/
Picture from Clunarra
by Clunarra 30 Sep 2003
My favourite mountain. The views are magnificent. But be careful here, mountain rescues are becoming a very regular occurrence on this one.(Comment Rating 3.60)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/687/
Picture from dmcdonag : Slieve League 6" Map
Picture: Slieve League 6" Map
by dmcdonag 31 May 2007
To add to the One Man's Pass debate... On the 6" maps there is the ridge leading up to the summit called "one Man's Pass". This is also marked on the Discovery series sheet 10. But to the south of the Keeringear ridge there is the One Man's Path. This is not marked on the Discovery series maps. Is this the confusion between the ridge and the rocky step?(Comment Rating 3.33)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/2719/
(End of comment section for Slieve League.)
Slieve League, 595m
Geansai
Collaborative entry
CaptainVertigo
paddyhillsbagger
RSS Feed for Recent Items.
