gerrym on Aghla More

From the S shore of Atlan Lough cross the river and pass the abandoned tower to head for the height of Agla More, rising some 1,300 ft from the depths of the Lough. The going is good on ground mown by sheep and are initially accompanied by the roar of falling water from the nearby river. As climb there are good views down over the Lough and across to the steep ground of Beaghy, with an impressive Dooish bathed in late evening sunshine across the valley containing the R251and its intrusive sound of traffic. Pick up a fence separating the forestry plantation and follow uphill. There are some patched of scree before reaching the summit and its small cairn. From the top there are great views straight down to Atlan Lough and in the fast fading light on a clear day I could clearly make out the immediate Derryveaghs, the Bluestacks, Inishowen and the offshore islands (with a lighthouse casting its gaze over the cold waters of the Atlantic at regular intervals). I went on to climb the two remaining Aghlas, not getting the benefit of the fantastic views in the dark but lying against the large cairn on Aghla Beg staring up at the clouds of stars was a great finish to a great day and in stark contrast to the brilliant sunshine atop Errigal earlier in the day. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/306/comment/2073/

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eoin on Aghla More

1st of the triple summits of the Aghlas, this peak is quite a slog to reach from whatever approach you use. You feel all of the 380-400 metres of ascent up the grassy slopes. Completed the Aghla trio last weekend on a windy but dry and sunny spring day. Started from the main road that leads into Altan Castle (see photo with the summits of Aghla Mor and Aghla Beg (South) clearly visible). This path is easy to follow but mucky and wet!! From the castle/lodge on the shores of Lough Altan you head up a feint path on the right then veer left to follow a bounday fence the whole way up to the saddleback ridge of the Aghlas. Our route involved a quick ascent of Aghla Mor (with incredible views of Errigal and the coast), then return to the saddle (optional route to the west of the lake) and contour around to summit at the large rocky cairn on Aghla Beg. From there you follow the brief dip and rise to the domed summit of Aghla Beg (South) or Ardloughnabrockbaddy and then return along the saddleback ridge to the path down to the lake.

It took us about 4 1/4 hours walking at a steady pace plus a few snack stops to bring it nearer 5 hours. This is not a beginners walk and is a fair old hike up and down and back again, but the views from all three summits and almost every point in between are just excellent with the whole of Donegal spread before you (on a clear day!!) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/306/comment/897/

A steep but very worthwhile climb

On 1 May 2010 I climbed Agla More as part of a walk from Muckish Gap to Altan Lough which also included Crocknalaragagh, the two tops of Agla Beg and Ardloughnabrackbaddy (Pt. 473). Although I had been to the top of Agla More previously, on a number of E - W crossings of the range, I had never diviated from the usual route around the S of Lough Feenane before climbing up to the summit. On this occasion, as we were including mv listed Ardloughnabrackbaddy (Pt. 473), we decided rather than backtrack E around the Lough to continue down SW across the outflow from L. Feenane I (B953 243). We then went W across a large patch of rock debris before continuing up to meet the grassy NW spur of Agla More J (B947 243). Once there it was a steep climb up SE to the summit cairn. From the top we dropped down SE to a high saddle D (B953 238) above L Feenane before heading SSE steeply downhill, with the forrest on our left, to C (B955 231) and then SW down to Altan Lough B (B954 226). Once past the ruined Altan Tower, we crossed the river and followed a winding track uphill over the SE shoulder of Beaghy and then out to the R251. For anyone doing an E - W traverse of these hills I would commend the diversion over Pt. 473 (described above) as worthwhile, both to include a mv listed top that might not otherwise be visited and as a change from the "traditional" route to Agla More. Once there, if the conditions are right, the views from Agla More will live long in the memory. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/306/comment/6638/

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skyehigh on Aghla More

Beaghy - the best viewpoint for Aghla More? Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/306/comment/1563/

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csd on Aghla More

Aghla More, with Altan just visible to the left and the atlantic in the distance, taken from the east. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/306/comment/639/

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