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Scraigs presented an imposing profile approaching from the NW and became even more impressive as its steep slopes swept up from the shores of Lough Finn. Mist was just clearing its top whilst in the background the top of Aghla was lost.

A small road (D (B928 025)) drops to the NW end of Lough Finn and rises to the col between Scraigs and Aghla above Lough Muck. There is parking for a couple of cars beside a water pumping station (E (B922 012)) at 230m - a perfect place to head straight for the summit.

A fence runs up behind the pumping station and can be followed all the way to the summit area, although it is more fun to keep to the steep edge high above Lough Finn. As i looked back over Lough Muck a heron lazily swept past. Sounds of tractors chugging and the chimes of church bells at 12 on a Sunday drifted up from below. The little railway yard was all closed up for winter or its sounds would have added to the mix

Views N ended in a wall of mist only hinting at the heights of the Derryveaghs but a coastline started to reveal itself to the W. The call of ravens echoed around the summit above and it was not long until i joined them - in just over half an hour. A sizeable cairn marks the top. Views stretch the entire lenght of the impressively long Lough Finn, past Aghla Mtn to the towering coastline at Maghera. Following the coast N brings Aran and the high Derryveaghs and all around to Inishowen. Continuing it was the turn of the Sperrins and the impressively rugged Bluestacks.

An easy return along same or similar route. Back at the car a farmer and his 5 sheepdogs engaged in a lengthy chat. He owns the hill of Scraigs and most of Aghla as well as Lough Muck. Walking is fine, although he is wary of dogs due to the potential damage to his sheep. In his eyes walkers are more sparse than previous years. Fish in Lough Muck are just as sparse due to the conifer plantations and mink roam these parts due to a now closed mink farm in the area.

It's good to talk! Oh and to walk!! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/708/comment/6690/

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Salvaging Something From A Bad Day

I had a bit of a disastrous morning, setting out with my nephew to climb Croaghgorm so that I could tick off its newly added lower summits, and maybe look for the plane wreckage. It looked magnificent in the sunrise with a dusting of snow, but just as I was looking for a place to park, my dashboard lit up with warning lights, and I lost power steering and power in general. Fearing it was the alternator and that if I shut off the engine it wouldn't start again, we were forced to turn and go straight home (at a very slow pace). It turned out to be the fan belt, and I was lucky I hadn't wrecked the engine driving back, but it was too late now for Croaghgorm. Instead we headed off in my nephew's car for Scraigs. Parking at the water plant high on the eastern side of Lough Muck, it was a straightforward, short climb to the summit, although very boggy with all the rain we've had. The views were stunning when the low clouds periodically parted, and they lent drama to the landscape as they partially hid and revealed the landscape moving quickly over it in the strong winds. Even the passing hail showers didn't dampen our spirits, glad as we were to salvage some walking from the day. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/708/comment/18391/

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Great summit with views to match.

On my ascent of this fine mountain from harry Goodman's suggested starting point, I was disappointed that I could barely see my feet as I walked, such was the density of the mist, and the annoyance of heavy showers. But as soon as I reached the summit, which is marked by a cairn, all that changed and I was presented with magnificent views in all directions. I was particularly pleased that as I descended to the west, Lough Muck in its entirety appeared as if by magic, providing the view of the day. A lovely hill in both aspect and the views it provides. Up and down in about 90 minutes. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/708/comment/24007/

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