From the Barnes River valley at the foot of Croaghnageer (see for previous part of this walk) it is a steep climb of over 1000 ft up the slopes of Croaghconnellagh on pretty wet ground. Light was fading fast on the climb adding to the sense of isolation - the constant sound of running water and the occasional plane overhead were my only companions. A climb of 45 mins brought me to the summit cairn, which is set back from a number of false summmits. It was completely dark now and Donegal Town was lit up to the SE, to the NE the warning lights of a large transmitter mast reached skyward and far below was the noise and lights of cars travelling along the N15. From the little reflected light available I could just make out the water of the two loughs at 003863 F, from where a track leads down to the road encircling Lough Eske. There is nothing like travelling in the dark with only the light from your headtorch to show the way. Having said that I still managed to put my foot down a hole and stray into a swampy bog before reaching the track between the 2 loughs. It was a walk of half an hour along this track, which was completely flooded in sections. I went through a gate covered in barbed wire from where the track changed to tarmac and passed a few houses before reaching the road proper. I turned right and followed this road for what seemed like an eternity, even though it was only a few km. The road had high hedges and for most of my journey I had the company of bats flying back and forth into my light in the search for insects. The new B&B at the start of the road to Edergole Bridge stood out like a beacon on the hillside with garish bright lights along the drive polluting the darkness. I reached the carpark at 10 pm after 10 hours of some of the best walking I have ever had the pkeasure to enjoy (endure?). The picture is looking across the Barnes River valley from the slopes of Croaghnageer to Croaghconnellagh. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/408/comment/1339/