[RWD version 1 ] I had hoped to make this a 3-bagged-tops outing but unfortunately I couldn’t find a way up Croaghacullin that didn’t involve waist-high heather or chest-high reeds on very uneven ground, so I abandoned that part of the plan, with the future intention of making an approach from a track to the SW. So ignore the part of the track where I swung to the SW for 1km.
There is parking for about 3 cars at the start point, which is a gate to a windfarm/forest road. Cross this and turn right at the T-junction, simply following the (rather boring) gravel road as it rises to the north for about 3km. As you climb the views improve greatly to the south, with Croaghanard rising above a broad valley and the ocean beyond Killybegs.
When the road swings sharply east, next to a wind turbine, you have the choice of bagging Mulnanaff or continuing on and ascending Crocknapeast to the NE. I chose the latter, following the road until it swung south (the second last windmill) where I veered NE across the open hillside, passing a few boggy areas and small pools. The summit from the road is just 800m and there’s a climb of just 60m, but the ground is rough and boggy in parts, but generally not too bad. The top is marked by a sizeable cairn with good views all round. I returned along the road to the bend, then dropped down about 10m on to the NW side of Mulnanaff. From there the highpoint is just 700m away with a climb of a mere 40m. You will see a fence curving up onto the hillside. Basically if you follow this it will take you all the way to the top, which is a heathery/grassy mound on the western side of the fence, with a couple of stones on the top. A long walk, over 12km, but two more Carns in the bag.