Feels Bigger Than It Really Is

I was in this area on Sunday, on a quest to find the Great Pollet Sea Arch, with no plans to bag any summits, but looking at the impressive profile of Murren and its near neighbour, Dun More, who could resist? I found a place to park on a grass verge on the road almost immediately east of the hill, near the area marked as Rosskirk on the map. I popped through a gap in the roadside hedge, went over a little ridge, and crossed a burn before heading straight up the steep hill side. The masts, prominent from other directions, were hidden by the steep ascent on this side. On the way up I encountered goats and a peregrine falcon, with increasingly good views towards Portsalon and Ballymasocker Bay to the south, and across to Inishowen to the east. It really was steep going on this approach, but short, and soon the masts and trig pillar on the summit came into view. There were now great views north over loughs to the coast, and passing storms out as sea. Further west, was a vista stretching past golden beaches to Horn Head and the Derryveagh Mountains. Despite the poor forecast, I'd had great conditions on the way up, and the weather held to give me long enough to appreciate the views, until the rain and wind arrived with a fury. I forgot about continuing over to Dun More, instead retreating back down to the car. Brilliant little hill, which feels bigger than it is. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1024/comment/17978/

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Murren Hill

Starting at B (C20900 42900) my wife and I followed a stoney track uphill for about 400 metres to meet a tarred minor road at C (C20700 42450) where we turned left and followed the access road up to the TV Transmitter.This swings in almost a full 360 degree turn between the rocky promontories of Dun Beg and Dun More. Once up at the Transmitter it is a short climb up asteep escarpment to the Trig. Pillar. There is evidence of a high wire mesh surround which would in the past have restricted access to the top but this is no longer in place. Views from the top encompass the whole of NW Donegal from Malin Head in the NE , along the spine of hills on Innishown to the E and the Donegal Highlands to the W. In short this is a little gem of a hill well worth visting if you are in the area. You can be up and down well within an hour and for those minded to do it is even possible to drive right up to the TV Transmitter! The walk could also be more interesting by going "off-piste" and exploring the two rocky promontories of Dun Beg and Dun More and other areas of rocky terrain on the way up. The photograph was taken looking S across Kinny Lough to Murren Hill on left and the rocky crag of Dun More to the right. The access road up to the transmitter runs from right to left around the right side of Dun More and then around the back of Murren Hill to near the summit. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1024/comment/4111/

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pdtempan on Murren Hill

In this view of Ballymastocker Bay, Murren Hill is the highest peak, right of centre. It is the highest hill near Fanad Head. The slightly lower but very prominent peak immediately to its left is Dun More. The village of Portsalon is at the far end of the strand. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1024/comment/3655/

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Murren Hill

There is room enough for one car to park by the minor road from Toome by a sharp bend and the access track at D (C206 424). More of this later! From here it is a quick walk to first the transmitter and then a short steep section up hill to the trig point and summit. This was our last hill of what was the first proper day of summer, and we were treated to the reddening of the sky and hills of a perfect sunset, spoilt only be the trasmitter. A fine end to a 4 hill day. Returning to the car we decided to follow the minor road down to the Portsalon road. This is the stoney track mentioned by Harry Goodman, this is marked on a lot of maps as a minor road, you know the yellow ones!, however it is not passable for anything other but a high wheeled 4x4. So good fun for us, but the end of the underside side of your car if you don't have a 4x4. Approach from Kindrum Lough side via Toome and return the same way or follow Harry Goodmans route and walk up and down the aforementioned stoney section, but don't attempt a drive through, unless your feeling lucky! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1024/comment/4611/

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Murren.....a little gem.

Last Thursday, 18/10/2018, a few friends and I did a recce on Murren Hill and the surrounding area. We have over the past twenty years or so covered most of the county but this was the first time we have done anything in the north Fanad peninsula other that the Knockalla Ridge. I can honestly say that I and my friends were astonished with the panoramic views we were presented to us on the top of Murren. We started the walk from the car park close to the top of Murren and after climbing the 70 odd feet to the top of the hill we headed south to Dargan and then, following the high ground continued west, then north west and finally north east until we intercepted the service road to the masts on the top of Murren, a little over nine kilometers in all. In my opinion the views afforded to us on this walk are a match for anything that Donegal can offer. It may not have the altitude of walks in the Derryveagh or the Blue Stacks but it is elsewhere but , my goodness, it is a real little gem of a walk. I would thoroughly recommend it. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1024/comment/20087/

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