Climb it because it's there

On Wed 11 Aug 2010 I approached my fourth Sperrins top of the day and the last on my Sperrins list with a little apprehension having read three5four0's comments of April 2009 but I should not have worried. I started from the track beside the Hall identified by three5four0 (but not taken by him) where there was plenty of parking space B (H33353 80567) and yes three5four0, having read your less than happy experiences on your alternative route, you should have started from here. From start to finish it was plain sailing, or should I say walking, all the way up and down the hill. Although the track was somewhat overgrown it was easy to follow and very passable. While stony at first, further along through (or over) a gate, it became a grassy ride which near its end swung around to the right up through the trees to become a good stone track at the start of a large clear felled area C (H32614 81497). Just before this cleared area was the only obstacle of the walk, a number of felled or fallen trees across the track. To get around these I simply moved a little to the right into the standing trees and was able to pass them quite easily. Once past them at the start of the clear felled area I turned right and followed the edge of the tree line up to the top some 500 metres away. Apart from a few minor dips in the slope and one area of very boggy ground the walk up to the summit area was very easy going. The top was adorned by a high rusted metal tower, which was possibly once used as a forestry lookout tower. This was at D (H32971 81806) and still some 75 metres short of the MV listed top. In view of this I continued on out over the tree stumps to the MV reference point at E (H33004 81880). In my view the metal tower stands on slightly higher ground but as is often the case in the Sperrins it would be difficult to be precise as to where the actual high point is and I leave it to someone with very accurate measuring equipment to decide. Suffice it to say I am satisfied, having been up there, I have stood on the high point of Mullaghcroy. Down was by way of ascent and a total distance of 3.7k all done and dusted within an hour of easy walking. This is not a hill to be climbed for widespread panoramas as views are restricted to the NW and limited at that, rather it is one more likely to be climbed by a MV peak bagger or as in my case to complete my list of Sperrins tops. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1008/comment/6030/

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three5four0 on Mullaghcroy

Climbed Mullaghcroy as part of a 20 mile route from the Ulster - American Folk Park to Newtownstewart via Bessy Bell. Had intended to use the track from point A (H333 805) (beside the Hall), but had dandered passed it whilst thinking of other things, so I accessed the hill via the lane way at F (H335 816). There is a new build in the field by the lane now, which has placed their dogs and kennels beside the lane. These would be the kind of dogs you would not want to meet alone on dark night or even in your local high street on Saturday afternoon, fluffy and cuddly they were not but they were chained up to their kennels.

After a short distance there is a fork, I went straight ahead, hacking my way through wind bush then over and around fallen trees, sightings of Red Squirrels enlivened another wise tedious session of bush whacking. Luckily after this there is plenty of room to walk between the trees and reach the summit quickly. There is a small fire break or possibly an old path running north to south over the summit, which also has a strange structure, perhaps an old television arial for some nearby farm.

I decided to follow this firebreak north towards Mullagh in the hope it would meet a track shown on the map there, at the edge of the forest there is a fence to cross and a short distance across the field I picked up the track and met the farmer & his son working there. Had a pleasant chat with them before continuing on my way.

I would recommend trying the first lane, from the hall (grid ref above), rather than the route i took, given the new build, its dogs and the over grown nature of the first section. The firebreak may indeed run all the way down to the other track, then again it might be just as overgrown and blocked by fallen trees as my way of ascent, good luck! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1008/comment/3707/

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Messy Hilltop

From the Drumquin Castlederg road, I turned off on to the Drumlegah Church Road, continued on through the village of Drumlegah, straight through the next crossroads, until eventually taking a left on to the Cavandarragh Road. A couple of hundred metres along this road I found a grass verge large enough to park on. Five minutes up a couple of fields took me took the summit area, recently cleared off trees, and as a result looking a bit post-apocalypic. The summit itself is around the fire tower. Views are good in all directions, although the weather had turned very murky when I was there. The summit area was covered in the tracks of red deer, common in the area from the nearby Baronscourt Estate. You could be up and down in 10 minutes so worth a visit if in the area. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1008/comment/15980/

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