Carntogher is litte more than a bump on the long line hills stretching down from the north coast - before the Sperrins turn east-west to follow the Glenelly valley and gain significantly in height. This probably explains why i have left it so long to pay a visit BUT i have to say the visit was well worth it.

Access is from Cotter Row carpark (819045 J) just outside Maghera, where there is an impressively large information board. A short and pleasant road walk crosses rivers and gives views of the steep northern side of Slieve Gallion through the hedgerow. Just as the minor road loses it tar a large stone pillar heralds the crossing of a stile and a green track (old coach road) along Altkeeran Glen. Height is gained gradually and markers show the way. A stout marker post is a good place to stop and savour the view over Lough Neagh, the clear jagged line of the Mournes, Belfast Hills and the Antrim Hills - the eastern half of the North. The view only being interrupted by the black curtains of heavy showers sweeping across.

Follow alongside the river, where supermodel skinny thistles show off thier purple clothes range, to reach a stile and wall. Continue to follow the remains of this wall uphill. A little plaque has been placed just off to commemorate the crash of a cessna in 1943, where Commodore James Logan (US Navy), David Grimes (Vice-President Philco Radio) and Capt. Loren Miles (USAAF) died. I caught the sound of voices on the wind and saw some people ahead, thinking it was a group of walkers. It turned out to be 50+ people taking part in the provincial Poc Fada hurling competition. This involves hitting a sliotar (ball) over a course of 2.5 miles marked out over the mountain - the least number of strikes taken winning and going on to the All Ireland final in the Cooley Mtns. Fantastic sight and another for the list of uses for the Irish mountainside. It did mean i did have to detour off the track to avoid fast moving flying objects.

The summit has a large marker post on the summit cairn and with it the views open out to the other half of the North - Lough Foyle visible between Donalds Hill and Benbradgh, the big Sperrin hills heading west where i could clearly make out Muckish, Aglas, Errigal and Slieve Snaght. Reached in i hour and 2.5 miles. As i sat at the summit with a warm cup of tea an ominously dark cloud appraoched from Donegal and soon large raindrops were splattering into my cup before turning to hail which machine gunned into my back. It soon passed to join the other dark sweeps of rain which obsured and then revealed distant hills over the north. I continued on to Moneyoran Hill before contouring back over Carntoghter and following the track back to the minor road and the carpark.

An undemanding walk for an afternoon or evening, with a fair bit of history and some stunning views in the mix. Much more detail can be found at: http://www.walkni.com/d/walks/320/Carntogher_History_Trail.pdf Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/567/comment/3967/