A great appetizer for a day in the hills

I climbed this hill as the first top in a round of five, all of them for the first time, on 10 August 2010. I started from the church car park suggested by eflanga at MínBhil (B83874 18575). Just beyond the S end of the car park I took a track to the left up past a ruined building. After some 320 metres B (B84025 18735) I turned up to the right along a narrow less distinct track, alongside a stream, and followed it up to the notch in the ridge C (B84155 18796). Once there I headed up SE along the gently rising hillside to a rocky knoll overlooking L Nabuckan D (B85929 18636) and then continued up over rocky ground to a large cairn E (E (B85612 18463)) (Pt 453). From here there was still some 300 metres still to go along a broad rock strewn ridge to the top and for me, at first, a little confusion ! The current MV grid ref F (F (B85708 18248)) leads to a rocky up crop about 200 metres along the ridge from the cairn and my own GPS reading cofirmed this position. However Pt 457 marked on the map as the high point (top) of the hill is over 100 metres further along down a short incline and then up to a small but very distinct rounded grass and rock covered knoll with a cairn. My photo shows the knoll and was taken from the current MV grid reference point. The reading I took for the cairn at Pt 457 was G (B85747 18089). I will be interested if anyone else is of the same opinion. In the meantime an extra five minutes ensures a visit to both spots. The coastal scenery from the top is extensive from Errigal in the NW around past Bunbeg, the islands of Gola and Aranmore and then S to the Bluestacks. If the walk is only to Grogan More return by the route of ascent or go down SW to the N end of L Caol Keel L (B84600 16850) and once at the road turn right and follow it back to the car park. However my next objective was Crocknafarragh over 2.5k away to the SE. ( For route followed see my comments on Crocknafarragh) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/595/comment/6008/

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eflanaga on Grogan More

Ascended as part of a circuit taking in Crocknafarragh. The starting point for the walk was at I MínBhil (B83874 18575) (Point A) (St Patrick’s Church). As you enter Croithlí (Crolly) take first left after filling station and before bridge/pub. Pass a quarry (left) on this narrow (waymarked) road before rounding a corner where you will see the church which is painted green. There is ample parking opposite. About 10 metres past end of the car park there is a track rising up on the left past small ruin. Take track, leaving it after about 120 metres & make for obvious gap in ridge. Here a fairly well worn path alongside stream will take you up onto height. Took bearing of 120SW up and over heather covered slope. Going relatively easy following sheep tracks. Emerged on height about 100m north of Loch Nabuckan. Decided to veer off course a little further north so as to approach An Grógan Mór summit along ridge. Cairn at IE (B85612 18463) and summit proper another 200m further on at IF (B85708 18248) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/595/comment/2886/

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zeaphod on Grogan More

Visited this top both day and night as part of a recent ML course. Fairly unexceptional physically, but with superb views and a lot of wildlife. We saw several peregrines in the area, along with the (not so) common lizard and usual skylarks/pipits/frogs. The area appears to be ungrazed/unused by man and so has a really wild feel. There is some passable camping spots at the nearby lough. Of course you have to accept that some bog crossing will be required. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/595/comment/3744/

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Great views on every compass point

If you want to do this in isolation, I suggest you park at Keel L (B84600 16850) and proceed NE up the heathery hillside, which is steepish in parts. The views from the summit to the east are stunning and almost as good looking west over Lough Keel, in fact in all directions! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/595/comment/23945/

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