MountainViews: Info on Slieve Foye Sliabh Feá (589m) in area Cooley/Gullion

Home:Main Area DisplayGPS Summit Data (Irl)MV 1 SummitsMV 1 Rate Summit)News:NewsNewsletters)Tracks, Walks:View all tracksView your tracksUpload a trackMV 1 Find a Walk)Community:Rising SummiteersSummiteers Hall of FameRecent ContributorsContributors Hall of FameCredits)Lists & Logs:Eight Lists & Personal LogLog AnalysisSettingsMy Contributions & ProfileListing Programs:Simple Irish ListingsSimple Irish & British Listings))Motley Views:General ForumSuggestions ForumBibliography)More:ShopGuidelines:Using the ServiceCommentsPhotos)Statistics Conditions of Use ResourcesLinks)

Guestuser: Login or enrol?

Welcome to "MountainViews" Guest visitor - have a look around - enrol (free & quick) to see Lists & Logs etc.

Summit or area: Set min height for summits.

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.

RSS Feed for Recent Items.

Cooley/Gullion Area Cooley Mountains Subarea

Printable format

Maximum height for area: 589 metres

Summits in area: 13

OS Map(s): 28, 29, 35 for all tops

Set Area Map On

Slieve Foye Mountain	Louth County
Sliabh Feá A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. Sliabh Feá [GE], 'mountain of rushes')
Height: 589 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 29&36A for top
Grid Ref: J16902 11934	Latitude: 54.043405 Longitude: -6.216199
ITM: 716825 811942	Prominence: 494m Isolation: 2.4km
Locally the name is understood as Sliabh Fathaigh, 'mountain of the giant', which accounts for the anglicised form “Foye” and ties in with local lore about a giant being discernible among the summit rocks. According to one version of the story, it Slieve Foye is the highest mountain in the Cooley/Gullion area and the 299th highest in Ireland. Slieve Foye is the most southerly summit and also the most easterly in the Cooley/Gullion area. Slieve Foye is the highest point in county Louth. Our data has reached 80% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Slieve Foye ..

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Slieve Foye in area Cooley/Gullion, County Louth, Ireland

Picture: Foye Trig Pillar Expand pics.

Something for everyone

by paulocon 5 Jun 2012 Fast becoming my old reliable, I've seen Foye in all weathers and it never fails to lift the mood. If you're planning on climbing the mountain, be sure to also take in some of the ridge as the rock-strewn landscape offers so much to explore. Every walk or run on the mountain reveals something new.

(Comment Rating 4.33) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: On the ridge between Slieve Foye and the Eagles Rock Expand pics.

by mcrtchly 22 Feb 2010 We climbed Slieve Foye on Saturday 13th February 2010 having decided to follow the new Slieve Foye looped walk as found on the Louth Co. Co. website. Unfortunately the walk is not yet fully developed and descent from the gap below the Eagles Rock could be dangerous for inexperienced walkers due to the lack of a defined path, sudden cessation of signs and on-going clear felling of the Slieve Foye forest. The route from the centre of Carlingford follows the Tain Way for about 500m up a steep road to a cross roads where the Tain way turns off to the right. At the cross roads continue uphill along a path sign posted Barnavave then a short turn to the left and over a new metal stile to where the path meets another part of the Tain Way. Follow the Tain Way to Barnavave gap and then turn right up the ridge towards Slieve Foye where there are signs for the Foye looped walk. A short scramble leads to the summit (there are harder scrambles on the rocks if you want). It was quite icy on top.

The views from Slieve Foye across Carlingford Lough to the Mournes were fantastic and a rocky ridge leads NW from the summit towards The Eagles Rock. Just below the Eagles Rock signs for the Foye looped walk lead off to the right (NNE) down a steep valley towards Slieve Foye forest. Then the signs stop and here the problems arose. We tried to make our own way down towards the car park shown on the map and avoiding the steep cut of the river in the valley. But there was no track and even worse, no gate or stile into the forest (which is now no longer a forest due to on-going clear felling). Eventually we managed to cross the fence and struggled over the remains of fallen trees and through deep sticky mud to reach the Tain Way which we followed back SE to our start in Carlingford.

Slieve Foye has much to recommend it, especially the craggy ridge walk NW from the summit but the route down to Slieve Foye forest is not to be recommended at the moment; at least until the route is signed and access through the forest/clear fell is sorted out. I contacted Louth Co. Co. on my return and they are aware of the problem and have said that they will put up temporary signs on the Slieve Foye walk alerting walkers. They are also talking with Coillte about the best way to cross the forest once the clear felling is completed.

(Comment Rating 3.95) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Lower Slopes of Slieve Foye from Carlingford Village. Expand pics.

by mneary34 27 Oct 2005 On 22nd October 2005 myself and Tom Milligan set out on a sunny morning to traverse the Cooleys from Carlingford village to Black Mountain and back. We parked in the tourist office car park in the village, walked through the village and took the northern headed Tain Trail. We departed from the trail on the left hand side of the wood shown in the photo which is the southern side of the wood. From there it is a steep direct climb to the summit and some scrambling is required if the line is to be maintained, so it is a route that may not suit everybody. Due to low cloud and poor visibility a bearing had to be taken to take us along the ridge past Eagle Rock and at J 157 136 (Point A) we changed direction and headed for Windy Gap. A combination of compass guidance and GPS 'Go to' took us from there although between The Split Rock and Ravens Rock all cleared and the wood south of Windy Gap came into view. We headed along its north eastern side and then descended along its northern side towards Windy Gap. This descent beside the Wood is steep and I would think especially in damp wet conditions should be avoided. We arrived at Windy Gap after a climb along this segment of the walk of 700 metres and 7 k in 2 hours 40 minutes. See Black Mountain for a continuation of the trek. In the attached photo the top of the forest is at the 250 metre contour and the top of the visible mountain is at 400 metres approx so there is another 200 metres approx covered in cloud.

Point A: J157 136

(turn area map On)

(Comment Rating 3.83) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by tsunami 29 Sep 2004 A fabulous mountain. Superior in so many ways to many others up to twice its size. It's mix of location, sense of exposure and also the challenge it can present having to climb from sea level put it up with the best of them. With the development and sign posting of the Tain Way, it has however become a lot more popular and some routes to the summit tend to be a little overcrowded in good weather for my liking, my favorite route being from the car park in Carlingford straight up onto the shoulder between Foye and Barnavave, around the back of the mountain towards the white bog until you are level with the trig point, and then simply scramble to the top. The views are excellent for the effort (which is really only the last couple of hundred yards straight up to the summit). For lovers of the Mournes, if you haven't been on the summit of Foye you are missing possibly one of the best opportunities to really appreciate the "Kingdom"! The picture shows part of this view over to Binnian, with it's head in the cloud. A panoramic lens is a must to really capture the breathtaking view over Carlingford Lough.

(Comment Rating 3.76) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by petermac 4 Jan 2007 Four of us climbed Slieve Foye on 29th September 06. It was a rewarding and challanging walk , very enjoyable. Two points however, climbers may wish to note. Firstly, the start of the walk as indicated on the tourist office map(downloadable) is confusing. We found ourselves going too far south on the Tain Trail and had to cut across fields to get back on track! We had both the Discovery OS map and a gps with the route planned in it and we still had a problem with the starting point! So be careful of that. Also the decent from Eagles Rock down to the car park is treacherous at the moment / there has been so much rain. The rain caused a slime on the grass which makes it extreemly slippery. One stick is essential( if not two,) to negotiate it without continually falling on your Aras! Having said that , the rewards in terms of the view are worth the effort.

(Comment Rating 3.75) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by three5four0 8 Oct 2008 Traverse of the Cooley Mountains
For those wishing to do this superb traverse, as outline by ahendroff, but with out access to two cars, read on! I travelled to Newry by Ulsterbus from Belfast, took a taxi ride from Newry Bus Station, (the taxi depot is just opposite the station) to the start point of ahendroff's walk (Point A). The Taxi driver was quite happy to drive his taxi up the winding minor roads for a fare of £6. I left Newry at 10:00 am and finished the traverse with around only 10 minutes to spare & no time for a pint before the 17:10 bus (this is the last bus for Newry on Saturdays) left Carlingford for Newry and my onward connection to Belfast. But with good connections with Belfast & Dublin, an earlier start than mine is easily achieved, and a leisurely pint can be supped before your departure home. Here are the web links to the Bus company's timetables, www.buseireann.ie/pdf/12 0 248 21 56-161.pdf www.translink.co.uk/ . And while you sup your pint, you can feel extra smug at a superb hill traverse, your use of public transport and the low carbon footprint for the days travels. I think that you may feel you deserve a second pint for that and why not!

(Comment Rating 3.75) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

COMMENTS for Slieve Foye ..

(End of comment section for Slieve Foye. Recent comments about other mountains below.)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..

Track
A circuit of the eastern Knockmeal hills

mcrtchly

less than an hour ago.
Park at S112081 and walk north along the road for about 170m walk, Length:11.7km, Climb: 620m, Area: Crohan West, Knockmealdown Mountains (Ireland) C

Summit Comment
Carrigawaddra: The Loo valley: yes you can!, but don't...

thomas_g

an hour ago.
Parked at the gravel area at the road junction at Loo Bridge, walked towards Kenmare on the R569 to a gate, then followed the muddy track to a green field (savour it, it will be the last you'll se...

Summit Summary
Lugnagun: Superb Blessington Lake Views

Collaborative entry Last edit by: march-fixer 6 days ago.
Though not a summit to write home about, it still provides a wonderful grandstand view south out over Blessington Lakes and west to the Hill of Allen. Until recently (2013) pine trees obscure thes...

Track
Walks Around Port 2

gerrym

a day ago.
http://youtu.be/jq7O1tarPuQ A second walk starting and fini walk, Length:17.0km, Climb: 578m, Area: Donegal SW (Ireland)

Forum: General
Good Sun coming. Bluestacks anyone?

simon3

2 days ago.
Anyone interested in walking in the Bluestacks (Ardnageers and nearby) on Sun or early Mon? Contact group@mountainviews.ie

Track
Circuit of the Three Aghlas

Onzy

a day ago.
Route takes in Aghla More, Aghla Beg South and Aghla Beg, be walk, Length:9.1km, Climb: 669m, Area: Aghla More, Donegal NW (Ireland) Aghla More, Aghl

Forum: General
SEX ROCKS AND ROLLS

BleckCra

3 days ago.
"It's like sex," she said. We looked at her. "Hillwalking. It's like sex." Her big scrubbed North Antrim face - and I imagined she didn't know much about either - not her fault mind, given the...

Track
Shankill River - Cloghleagh Circuit

march-fixer Starts in new browser window.

3 days ago.
This is a nice scenic route in a mixed coniferous and decidu walk, Length:4.0km, Climb: 45m, Area: Dublin/Wicklow (Ireland)

Summit Comment
Tully Mountain: Mwelrea from the Sea

Geansai

5 days ago.
Good view of the highest summit in Connaught on the way up Tully Mountain.

Forum: Suggestions
Issue with Rising Summiteers list.

simon3

4 days ago.
We received word that there were inconsistencies between the count of summits that a user had and position in the Rising Summiteers table. I have taken some remedial action and this issue should ...

Summit Comment
Slieve Carr: Possible with Nephin Beg in a day

jimgraham

a week ago.
Just to note that I found it possible to combine Slieve Carr with Nephin Beg. Working from the southern end of the Bangor trail (point F) it took me four hours to gain the top of Carr; about two ...

Forum: General
Nenagh walking festival

hivisibility Starts in new browser window.

5 days ago.
Just to add to Roberto's comments re above I was on the A walk on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. A well led walk, lovely pace and super hospitality afterwards. Most impressive.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..