Mountain of the Heights

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The recent cold spell has created stunning winter conditions in the Sperrins. The favoured approach is from the large layby at Iniscarn Wood (A (H833 907)). Roads were reasonably clear but thick ice sheathed the layby and as i was changing footwear the car started to slide despite handbrake and in 1st gear!

A straight forward track heads through the forest, passing an abandoned house and woodpiles past 'gate 2'. A carpet of snow had been through the freeze/thaw cycle and the path was very icy. With height the snow was more pristine and walking was easier, allowing eyes to rise to capture the opening views across to the line of Antrim Hills defined by thier similar white dressing. A narrow rough track begins where the forest track ends, rising further up the flank o f the hill. Power lines cross this track and a clear line to the summit follows thier swathe. This is a steep haul and i could imagine the wooden poles lifting skiers to the top (there was an idea from a local farmer at one stage - maybe if future winters are like this?).

Coming out from the trees i followed the trail left by others through the windswept powder snow to a stile. Creative new signs have been put in place over the hill guiding to the tops - they do the job in a very natural way. The communications masts loomed out of the total whiteness that was the hillside, with snow drifted 2-3 feet alongside thier protective fence. I stopped beside a telegraph pole to take some pics and a large chunk of ice fell and glanced off my hand - a timely reminder not to do that again!

Views were spectacular with the contrast in colour from the brilliant white of the snow on top to the drab browns and greens of the Lough Neagh basin. To the east the Antrim Hills were doing as well with the wintry weather and Divis had a crown of white. Most breathtaking were the views west to the rest of the Sperrins - they had a real bright cold white look which shone strongly in the full sun. I suppose if i was to get too lyrical it was a virginal perfection, with no blemishes.

There were a few other hardy souls knocking about the top as i took the road from the summit which was just about visible. Heading for the true top was a bit more difficult as the bog road was filled in with 4-5 feet of snow. But it was great fun tramping a path withwind sculpured snow, half buried fences, blue skies, magnificent views and a fresh wind to cool me down from the heat being generated. Return was back to the road which i followed downhill to take an extremely icy farm track back to the road and car.

A truely amazing experience on Slieve Gallion which just brings a smile to my face thinking about it. With this weather set to last for a while give it a visit and experience it for yourself! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/470/comment/4317/

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Since I was already climbing Slieve Gallion today it required virtually no extra effort to bag the NE Top as well. The Tullynagee road from Moneymore extends all the way up to the car park at the ugly transmitter station. Incidentally this car park is the highest point on a public road in Northern Ireland climbing to an impressive 490m (B (H813 894)). The 496m summit cairn is about 100m behind the mast - just a short stroll. Like the main summit of Slieve Gallion the views from the NE summit are incredible if you're lucky enough to get a clear day like today. The county tops of seven different counties were visible - Sawel looked particularly majestic in the afternoon sunshine - as well as numerous smaller summits throughout the north of Ireland. I would recommend this mountain to anyone who loves long views - you really can see for miles in every direction. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/470/comment/5834/

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dino on Slieve Gallion NE Top

Climbed on December 21st 2007. I had a longer walk planned for today but in the end up fancied something shorter and more simple. I got the route for this one from a guide called "Landscapes in Stone - Walk The Sperrins", loaded a track on the GPS and away I went (without the route card which was a bit of a mistake at one point). I wish I had taken the time to check my map better and to read here as I didn't realise there was a second peak and a trigpoint to be had with just a short extension of the walk. I guess it gives me a chance to go back again.

The guide follows pretty much the same route as described by gerrym for Slieve Gallion proper but descends from the turn off for Slieve Gallion to pick up a number of good farm lanes that bring you gently back to the Iniscarn Road about 200m from the forest gate.

The one and only problem I had was at the end of the forest track below the summit. Instead of following the muddy track that gerrym mentions I turned right along a faint path that eventually became an overgrown drainage channel and ended up perilously crossing about 10m of ancient and crumbling brashing which could have resulted in a nasty accident. Be careful if you are following the same guide.

Views from the summit cairn were good but most of the distant sights were obscured by the persistent mist lying over Lough Neagh and in many of the valleys. The summit cairn still made a great windbreak and provided a comfortable seat to have lunch and admire what I could see.

The descent via the aforementioned lanes was quick, easy and painless and I was back at the parking spot in less than 3 hours which included 15mins for lunch. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/470/comment/2926/

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