slemish on Ganiamore

Ganiamore is the highest point on the fabulous Rosguill peninsula - a part of Donegal I have been holidaying in for many years. I climbed this hill again today in fine weather for November - surprisingly sunny and warm. It isn't the most accessible hill and at first glance there isn't a straightforward route up it. I parked at the car-park of the Singing Pub in the townland of Clontallagh ( Mev X (C116 402)). The hill towered above as I took a left past the pub and onto the track which goes uphill behind it. About half-way up this track are the ruins of an old house. I left the track here and turned left onto a flat area of the open hillside. This might seem like the long way round on the map but it avoids a dangerous steep rocky section on the east face. It gets very steep indeed on the final approach to the summit at 207m, which is marked by a trig pillar and cairn. The trig pillar was in very good condition. An ugly mobile phone mast has recently been erected on the summit which spoils the beauty of the hill somewhat. And so to the views - on summitting you are rewarded with a 360 degree panorama. From Loughsalt Mountain and the mighty Muckish in the south, over Sheephaven Bay and Horn Head to the west and all the way round to Crocknasleigh in the north and the Fanad peninsula in the east. On a very clear day both Slieve Snaghts are also visible. You can descend towards the Stella Maris church on the southern slope to make for a longer walk but take care as the hill drops steeply here. A hard enough climb for all the size of it but well worth it, particularly on a clear day. Total trip about 1 hour. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1033/comment/4258/

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Ganiamore

Limited parking available by a small church at Stella Maris (C109 397), by a sharp bend in the minor road from Derrycassan. From here follow a lane way east, below the rocky outcrop, for a short distance till just before a large water tank (think for big enough for a small village!). And on your left there will be a gate into a field and the hill side. Once in the field, follow the re-entrant between the rocky top and the actual summit, steeply up hill. There is a faint path, as it would appear the cows in the field also like to visit the summit for the views! Turning right at the top and walk the short distance to the trig point. Views are great again, with only the afore mentioned - by Slemish - phone mast spoiling the views. Could see the 2 previous hills I climbed today from the summit, including my next Murren Hill. Descent by way of ascent. All in all a very quick ascent and descent, made worthwhile by the views from the summit. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1033/comment/4610/

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Up in the Downings!

A strange wee hill for these parts as has quite alot of development around its edges and a maze of roads, making it difficult to find a suitable approach - at least until you know where you are.

Starting point is the carpark at the small church on the outskirts of Downings ( Stella Maris (C109 397)). The approach has been well described by three5four0 and does not provide too much of a challenge! A fenceline, trip point, delapitated cairn and small communications mast mark the summit.

Fortunately the eyes are able to take in a broad sweep along the northern reaches of Donegal - Roguill, Hornhead, Malin, Dunaff Head and Inishowen. I was able to count 11 golden beaches. To the south views extend over Downings, where yachts where moving like jetskis in the strong breeze, to Muckish and her companions and to the distant Bluestacks. WOW would be a good word to describe it all!

A direct southerly descent brought some delight over steep broken ground back to the road and church. All done in 40 minutes and best done as part of a grand tour i think - over 2 days i was able to visit 5 of the lesser hills in these parts. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1033/comment/6601/

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Tourist route

There are harder routes up the modest peak of Ganiamore but the tourist route starts at the Stella Maris Church in Meevagh at Stella Maris (C11001 39674) which is well signposted from either side of the Atlantic Drive. Other than at 10am on Sundays, this has ample parking. From the church car park, follow the road for a short distance and take the left fork at the T junction, then veer right at the Y junction at A (C10831 39777). A short time later you will meet a quarry and just after this at B (C10749 39900) there is a gate marked "Authorised persons only". Despite the forbidding stricture, an entrance to the right of the gatepost gives admittance to a track that wends its way to the top of Ganiamore - taking in some industrial architecture for phone masts and sundry sheds. The vegetation is initially dominated by invasive species like cotoneaster, which has out-competed the native varieties but higher up there is a good selection, including scrub willow, Erica cinerea, asphodel and tormentil. Keeping your eye on the horizon as you ascend will reveal excellent views of Horn Head, Tory Island and Cnoc Fola and once the summit is attained, there is a wonderful panorama with 360 degree views of the north Donegal peninsulas and mountains. Return by the same route. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1033/comment/24016/

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Ganiamore

Ganiamore is also known locally to have been a mass rock from back when the english outlawed Catholocism. As you can see when you climb to the top it is a panoramic view for miles around. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/1033/comment/6226/

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