Guestuser: Login or enrol?
Welcome to "MountainViews" Guest visitor - have a look around - enrol (free & quick) to see Lists & Logs etc.
Overview
Detail
For more map options click on any mountain area or any detail feature.
Detail Map Features
Showing 4 items:
Slieve League 595m, Crockrawer 435m, Leahan 427m,
Tracks:
2057, 14km
Search features
Users Online:
brenno
Guests online: 49
Recent Contributions
Conditions and Info
Use of MountainViews is governed by conditions.
Hillwalking is a risk sport. Information about the site and about safety is here.
Opinions in material here are not necessarily endorsed by MountainViews.
Information in comments, walks or GPS tracks may not be accurate as regards safety or access permission. You are responsible for your safety and your permission to walk. More.
Recent Items   RSS Feed for Recent Items.
Add to Google
Rating graphic.
Slieve League Mountain Sliabh Liag A name in Irish
(Ir. Sliabh Liag [DUPN], 'mountain of the flagstones') Donegal County In Arderin List

Height: 595m OS 1:50k Mapsheet: 10 Grid Reference: G54414 78359 This summit has been logged as climbed by 217 members
I have climbed this summit: NO (You need to be a logged-in member to change this.)

Longitude: -8.707022, Latitude: 54.651284 Prominence: 470m,   Isolation: 1.9km,   Has trig pillar
ITM: 554371 878351,   GPS IDs, 6 char: SlvLg, 10 char: SlvLg

The quartzite on Slieve League splits into flagstones and was used for flooring or roof tiles. The mountain is noted for its spectacular array of cliffs descending straight from the summit to the sea, and for the dramatic One Man's Pass (Casán an Aonai   Slieve League is the highest mountain in the Donegal SW area and the 285th highest in Ireland. Slieve League is the second most westerly summit in the Donegal SW area.
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/
COMMENTS for Slieve League 1 2 3 .. 6 Next page >>
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
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.

The recommended route to Slieve League starts at the lower car park at 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.

Return via the same route as far as the plateau and take the Pilgrim's Path on your left at 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

Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' Comment Rating (5.00) Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/5045/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
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.
Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' (Comment Rating 3.71) Your Score: Very useful <<  >>Average Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/1811/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
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.
There is a good path from the carpark and its informative information board, along stone steps and easy grass - this soon changes though and the track becomes quite heavily eroded through areas of peat and rock (a testament to the heavy traffic the hill no doubt attracts). There are breath taking views along the lenghth of the sea cliffs to Rathlin O Birne island. Soon come to a series of little jagged tops which contain the rib of rock already mentioned in other comments - I climbed up to its start but the steady breeze told me it was not a good idea to attempt and the easier track below won out. Ever higher vantage points have the hand reaching for the camera - be prepared for numerous stops to take pictures. After 1 hr 10 minutes i reached a large cairn and a level area at the summit. Continue along the cliff edge - looking back over the cliffs to the now distant carpark. There are cracking views to the Sligo Hills, along the Ox mtns to Nephin and then Corribinnia and Glencar in the Nephin Begs and to lands end at Belmullet. There are also good views N to the Derryveaghs and the Bluestacks.
There are a number of cairns as travel easily along the cliff top before drop down and cross One Mans Pass - the narrow ridge leading to the true summit area - not really anything too worry about unless the wind was howling. The summit area has a "sawn off" trig pillar and a couple of small cairns, with views over to Leahan Mtn (427 m), Rathlin O Birne island with its lighthouse and N to the signal tower and the jagged top of Sturral Head further around this magnificent coastline. The E breeze was whipping down the cliffs and creating spreading patterns on the ocean below - a solitary fishing boat the only other disturbance.
Return back along One Mans Pass to the first large cairn encountered on the climb, i noticed a perfect little igloo shelter built here. Take the E running spur above Lough Agh. there appears to have been some sort of competition here as i counted over 20 sizeable cairns. The going is very good on grass and small stones, with great views down over Lough Agh and across to the slopes which end abruptly at the huge sea cliffs. After reaching a cairn there is a drop down and a small rise to the top of Lergadaghtan Mtn (5666784 (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
Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' (Comment Rating 3.70) Your Score: Very useful <<  >>Average Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/2289/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
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.

We headed off along the gravel track which snakes up along the cliffs from the carpark. There are a number of unmissable photographic opportunties on route so do allow for plenty of stop time!! Navigation is very simple on this walk as a well maintained track, including stone paving slabs and steps, continues up along the cliffs onto an area marked as Scregeighter on sheet 10. Be prepared for more photo stops!

From here the track continues onward toward Eagles Nest and Shanbally, gradually rising the whole time. The going is quiet good at this stage with spectacular views in every direction. There has been much debate on the website as to what is the 'real' one mans pass. My own personal opinion would be that the area marked as Kerringear on sheet 10 is home to the real pass, and a knife edge arete of rock is visible at this location. Unfortunately strong winds hindered any chance I had of attempting this rock arete but there is also a track which winds around and up the right hand side of Kerringear and leads onto the small plateau in front of the church. This track is very badly eroded and very very slippy. The trail from previous walkers is an unfortunate scarr on the mountain.

Once the plateau was reached we used the cliff edge as a handrail feature to take us across to One Mans Pass. In what seemed like an act of god, whatever fog and mist was lingering across one mans pass suddenly lifted to uncover the pass in all its glory. Stunning views are on offer in every direction with the steep cliffs below the pass dropping into the sea on your left side, and the great corrie wall of Lough Agh imposing itself on your right side. It feels good to be alive. The trig pillar atop Slieve League is only a sort distance from the pass, and yes you guessed it be prepared for more photos!! We returned to the carpark by the same route. Highly recommended. The photo below shows ones mans pass as it is marked on sheet 10 (I will post seperate photo of the 'real' pass at Kerringear) with the sea cliffs in the background. The carpark at bunglass is located next to Lough O'Mulligan which is also visible in the photo.
Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' (Comment Rating 3.67) Your Score: Very useful <<  >>Average Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/6103/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
 
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.
Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' (Comment Rating 3.60) Your Score: Very useful <<  >>Average Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/687/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve League in area Donegal SW, Ireland
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?
Unfortuately I haven't climbed the mountain, but I intend to take a print out of the 6" map and verify it in the field. I've attached a copy of the 6" map indicating both the pass and the path.
Help rate this comment for usefulness. Choose a scoring button and then 'Rate' (Comment Rating 3.33) Your Score: Very useful <<  >>Average Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/285/comment/2719/
 
COMMENTS for Slieve League 1 2 3 .. 6 Next page >>
(End of comment section for Slieve League.)

OSi logo OSNI/LPS logo
British summit data courtesy:
Database of British & Irish Hills
(Creative Commons Licence)