Harry Goodman on Bulbin

Some time back when I was walking the ridge of hills from Raghtin Beg to Urris, in addition to the views across to Slieve Snaght (my objective for the next day), I became very much aware of the nearer neighbours of Dunaff Hill (Head) and Bulbin. Previously I had only seen Bulbin and its sharp peak from afar but now it was across the valley just waiting to be climbed. Although it took some time to get around to it I eventually made it back to Inishowen. I started my walk at B (C358 435) (Addeville), a narrow country road, and walked SW. The road curved around to the SW side of the hill. At approximately Effish Up (C349 423), where a stream comes down the hillside I headed SE up the slope to the ridge and then turned left up to the summit at 494m. The top has a memorial already photographed and commented upon by gerrym, and there is also a small tarn. There are fine views W from Raghtin More to the Gap of Mamore and the Urris ridge beyond, while to the SE is the bulk of Slieve Snaght, the highest mountain in Inishowen. From the top I descended NE around the cliffs to my left and once past them NNW to a gate and my starting point. Walking time was about 1hr 45mins. I combined this walk with with a walk over nearby Dunaff Hill. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/475/comment/4207/

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A beautiful summit worth the quick ascent !!

It was around 3 pm on 09.November 2013, the last of my six-day stay on Inishowen, and I had decided to climb Bulbin before leaving the peninsula. Being short of time, I drove along the unpaved road that encircles Bulbin, S of Adderville. The rocky road is passable, though a 4WD would be more advisable. The road is closed by a gate at around Effish Up (C348 424) and there is enough space for one or two cars alongside the road. By the time I got there, it started hailing, so I waited for two or three minutes until it stopped and then the weather cleared up a bit, so I was lucky enough to enjoy a dry walk.
Crossed the gate that leads onto open field (not the one that bars the road). There is a narrow but deep gully and a fence to the right that can be followed up to the first rocky outcrops . The fence leads to the SW end of the ridge, but I veered NE for a more direct ascent, leaving some small crags to my left, crossing a fence just above one of them, making my way underneath the summit ridge, until I decided to climb up a steep grassy slope that finally led me to the top of the ridge, about 100m S of the cross. The summit itself is a rock that lies on the edge of the western cliff (I think it is visible on Harry Goodman's picture), just a few meters from the cross. Caution required on windy days !!
To the S, the mist together with a late November afternoon sunlight trying to peer through the clouds limited the views to the windmill farm that lies on top of Beam. Malin Head, Binnion and Coolcross Hill were clearly visible to the N, while mist-covered Slieve Snaght and Slieve Main barred the horizon to the E, as did the beautiful Urris Hills-Raghtin More ridge to the W. Lough Swilly shone like a diamond, the only area bathed in sunlight. Some of the Derryveaghs were merely visible beyond.
I decided to come down the same way and came to realise how steep was the very last part of the ascent and how much more care it required to go down !! As I reached the fence I had crossed on the way up, I found out it could also be followed to reach the summit area and would probably offer both easier ascent... and descent !! Crossed the fence and walked along underneath the ridge to avoid the crags to the right until the fence that runs along the gully previously mentioned came into view, that led me right back down to the car.
All in all a pleasant walk on easy-going ground, about 1h return, including 10 minutes enjoying the rewarding views. Care would be recommended on a bad day, though, as for the crags/cliffs that stand along the ridge. The photo was taken a few days before, and shows Bulbin, as seen from the Urris Hills. The weather was great, with only a few clouds, allowing an entire rainbow to suddenly appear over Croaghcarragh !! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/475/comment/15277/

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gerrym on Bulbin

Bulben was bathed in sunlight as i approached NE from Carndonagh, looking rough, ragged and airy - my fingers were itching to stop and capture the sight. Reality though was to be somewhat different.
Access was off the R238 Buncrana-Ballyliffen road (C (C378 412)) on a narrow lane climbing up beside the Clonmany river. Options for parking are very limited - there is a disused track on a bend before a cattle grid ( Glasmul (C374 408)) which holds a car easily. Follow the track uphill beside a gushing stream, double jobbing as a sheep herder on the way. Views extend west to the big hills in these here parts - Slieve Snaght and Slieve Main. Ahead the tops of wind turbines drifted gradually closer. At the crest the track forks (one heading for the turbines) and this was a cue to take to the hillside, passing the bright clay of an old pidgeon shoot, on the way to spot height of 357m (D (C365 411))

There is much evidence of man and machine with areas of roughly hewn peat. I followed the NE side of the hill, gradually gaining height - the distinctive cairn popping in and out of view. Steep grass slopes slid away to level ground below. The braod grassy going was not what i had imagined whilst stealing glances from the car earlier in the day. I was even more disappointed to find a very large area of the hill reduced to a mudpit by vechiles - this continued right to the summit itself. An absolute wasteland. Fortunately my eyes could wander further afield as the views changed - W across Lough Swilly to the sands of Ballymastocker, Knockalla ridge and Loughsalt Mtn, the line of the Antrim Hills to the E, surf breaking in Pollan By to the N, the gradual appearance of the Sperrin Hills to the SE.

The summit was reached in 1 hour and 2.5 miles. It has a large concrete cross erected to commemorate Irelands Eucharistic Congress in 1932, complete with holy water font (thats not what is in it though??). The top is quit narrow and the base of the cross takes it all up. A vicious shower had me sheltering in its lee for half an hour. Views are stunning as already mentioned - Derryveaghs, Bluestacks, Sperrins, Antrim Hills, Scottish Isles, Malin Head, Raghtin More and Urris Hills across the valley belowand a large portion of Lough Swilly. The biblical darkness of swirling cloud passed to bring cool sunshine and a strong wind more reminisant of autumn than August.

I dropped down to pick up the track which skirts the south of the hill and followed this straight back to the car. Two hours and nearly 5 miles in all. A wonderful looking hill from any distance, up close the blemishes are all too apparent and it becomes clear that this is a hill in need of some loving care to nurse it back to full health. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/475/comment/4053/

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vikinghar on Bulbin

Climbed Bulbin, or as the locals call it Bulaba, last Sunday in August and I’m absolutely gutted to see that GerryM has beaten me to it with his comments, but that’s my own fault and he’s welcome to the first comment. The route I took was much easier accessed than that of GerryM; I parked my car on the North West side of the mountain at a holiday cottage, point Addv Up (C355 433). From there I walked the road to the south and followed the rough bog track until I reached the bottom of the ridge that runs straight to the top. I left the track at point E (C352 414) and headed straight as possible for the summit, and returning by the same route. The dangers to look out for, as with any mountain, are the steep cliffs to the left of this suggested route on the way up and the disorientating affects of mist. I climbed Bulaba on a clear day earlier in the summer and the views were fantastic, but this time it was raining and misty. On the way down I was very conscious of the cliffs, which would have been to my right, and as a consequence I went too far to the left and ended up on the ridge heading South West. I eventually reached the main Buncrana - Clonmany road at Meenaduff, where a kindly local gave me a lift back to my car. Having said this, Bulaba is worth the climb on a clear day and my route will facilitate good parking and groups of walkers of various abilities. Next time I will not leave my Garmin at home, and I am reminded of the saying that; “Experience is no substitute for clairvoyance”! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/475/comment/4076/

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A fine spring Bulb in Donegal

was in Donegal for a few days, headed up north from Buncrana on the R238 turned left at F (C37912 41181), was able to drive on a well made minor road to Shiv L (C36368 40298) room to park one or maybe two at a squeeze, on a clear day Bulbin is in view to the North approx 2.5km away the cross visible from here, walked along a well made track for about 300mts and then up past some old bog cuttings onto open hillside and a fairly wet ascent up gentle slopes to the large concrete cross that sits atop Bulbin. Fine views in all directions from here Slieve Snaght dominates view Eastwards, got caught in a fairly severe snows shower that lasted for most of my descent to the start point, then the skies cleared to give stunning views all around Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/475/comment/23433/

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