vikinghar on Ardloughnabrackbaddy

Ardloughnabrackbaddy is a bit of a controversy, so bear with me. First off the name is hard to say. It comes from the Irish meaning “the high brown-trout Lough”. Secondly, OSI sheet 2 gives the name, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, to the highest of the three Sisters (or Aghla’s) and this wonderful and erudite website, which it truly is, calls that particular mountain, “Aghla Beg (South)”, which is actually higher than Aghla Mor. Thirdly, OSI sheet 1, in agreement with this wonderful and erudite website, gives the name Ardloughnabrackbaddy to another height, not 500 yards away from the other Ardloughnabrackbaddy. Lastly (thank goodness, says you), Ardloughnabrackbaddy is not really a distinct mountain, in and of itself. You can see from the map that there is a defined height of 473m, but from the picture, Ardloughnabrackbaddy is completely dwarfed by the mountains and ridges of the main Aghla’s. In fact there are turf hags that are more distinct. Put it this way, if you where at the bottom of the Aghla’s looking up, you would not see it, and if you where on top on the Aghla’s you would not notice it. In walking terms, this is not a mountain that is distinct from its surroundings, and diverting from the walk from Aghla Mor to Aghla Beg (South), or vice versa, it is hardly worth the “bagging”. See the comments for the Aghla’s to get a really good walk in the area around Ardloughnabrackbaddy. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/538/comment/3070/

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A worthwhile diversion

Having noted by vikinghar's comments that this top in walking terms is hardly worth the "bagging" and having also noted at the same time the high rating given to it by members of mv's I thought I should go and have a look for myself and make up my own mind. As I was in the Derryveagh Mts for a walking week-end with my Club and as one of my planned walks was to go from Muckish Gap to Altan Lough over Crocknalaragagh and the Agla's, I decided to include Ardloughnabrackbaddy (Pt 473) as part of my route.
On 1 May 2010 we approached the hill directly from the top of Agla Beg South by descending W with a touch of N to the coll above Lough Feeane A (B95750 24400) and then through a dense patch of peat hags, before climbing gently to the top which is marked by a small cairn. On the day we were there we had fine views N over the coast and lowlands around Falcarragh, across to Tory Island and W over Carn Traonach and Bloody Foreland Hill. Although I had been across Crocnalaragagh and the Aglas a number of times in the past I had never diviated from the usual route SW around Lough Feenane before climbing up to the top of Agla More.
The difference this time was that our climb over Ardloughnabrackbaddy (Pt 473) allowed us to head down SW across the out flow from Lough Feeane B (B95250 24400) and then across a large patch of rock debris to the grassy NW spur. Once there we climbed steeply up to the top before descending SE down the ridge to C (B95500 23100) and then SSW to Altan Lough. We then followed the winding track up to the R251. For anyone not keen on crossing rock debris this can easily be avoided by heading due west from Pt 473 directly to the NW spur of Agla More at D (B94800 24500) and then climb to the top. Having been across Ardloughnabrackbaddy I would commend this short diversion off the usual track between the Aglas as a worthwhile alternative and, at present, "less travelled" route. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/538/comment/4687/

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More names confusion from our OS friends

Agree with Vikinghar that the OS maps are a mess with regard to the names etc in this area, with Ardloughnabrackbaddy being attributed to two tops, one of which is actually the highest of the three Aghlas (carrying the appendage 'South on MVs). That aside I found this hill lacking in any great interest or astheic, aside from the views it provides. But having said that, it is so easy to bag if your're doing the three Aghlas, you might as well nab this one. You'll be up and down it in fifteen minutes. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/538/comment/5873/

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The Good, the Bad and the Aghly!

‘You’s not be getting a taxi here at that time’, said the receptionist at Errigal hostel shaking her head, ‘there’s no one who’ll take a fare that time of the morning’. A taxi in Dunlewey at 9.00 am? No chance. But 4.00 am? No problem. Changing our plans, we opted for a round of the Aghlas. The day was cloudy and didn’t hold much promise as we set off up a stony boreen by the R256. Off the track, the terrain of stunted heather and bilberry entangled in spongy sphagnum with shin high tussocks was brutal and I had foolishly forgotten to insert my orthopaedic insoles into my new boots.

Past Lough Moilt we began the viciously steep climb up the scree covered NW ridge of Aghla Beg. The salt laden wind was blowing straight from the Atlantic slowing progress. We paused momentarily to catch our breath and watched as a thin curtain of rain briefly pulsated across the vast expanse of desolate bog below, petering out before it reached us. The endless grey sea merging into dreary russet bog bearing the ancient scars of the slane, and dark clouds galloping across the sky, seemed to herald the coming of winter.

Barely managing to stand upright in the wind, we arrived at the large quartzite summit cairn. Ahead lay the next 3 of our quartet of peaks: Aghla Beg South Top, which is the highest, not Aghla Mor (confused? So was I!) and playing piggy in the middle, the runt of the litter, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, by the lough of the same name. As we descended Aghla Beg South the cloud started to lift, blue sky flashed between the scurrying clouds and the sun broke through illuminating streaks of quartz in the Derryveagh Mountains and whitewashed farmhouses tucked into the folds of the hills, bathing all in a translucence unique to Donegal.

On Aghla Mor’s narrow ridge it was almost impossible to remain upright in the wind roaring like a jet engine up the mountain from Atlan Lough. Believing we’d get some shelter on the leeward side of the hill, we beat a hasty descent over ankle twisting terrain. My feet were by now protesting wildly: agony in the Aghlas! As I paused to rest, a tremendous roar swept up behind me, a force buffeted my left shoulder sending me off balance, and completely upended mcrtchly in front. Invisible until it hit Lough Ardloughnabrackbaddy, the whirlwind began its maniacal dervish dance across the lake, ripping the water into a foaming snarling maelstrom, before dumping it with a strident hiss. I watched spellbound as the surface of the indigo lake was agitated by the wind causing a million malevolent looking inky tentacles to spread beneath is surface. The gusts were so powerful they blew the water off the lake in huge shimmering veils and we had to run the gauntlet to cross the shore without getting drenched.

Ardloughnabrackbaddy bagged, I hobbled back to the car via a traverse round Aghla Beg. The pain in my feet is now forgotten, but the whirlwinds on Lough Ardloughnabrackbaddy are indelibly etched in my memory. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/538/comment/15219/

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Longer To Write Than Climb

On the way from Aghla More to Aghla Beg South, it was easy to take in this small summit with a short diversion after rounding the southern side of Lough Fiain. It may be a controversial top, but it is so easy to include, that it would be almost mad not to. It would almost take longer to write than summit. I thought it was worth it for the different perspective it gave on the steep southern shore of Lough Fiain if nothing else. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/538/comment/18449/

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