three5four0 on Spaltindoagh

There is a lack of available parking places on the narrow road, below Spaltindoagh, that don't involve blocking a gate or lane way. However, just past the new bridge at C (H640 884), there is enough room to park off road and not block the lane way to an old abandoned farm house.

From here turn left and go through the gate, into the lane, then turn right over rough ground and follow the forest edge up hill (do not go through a closed gate here, as you will end up in a fenced off bog hole!). Continue uphill passing through an old open gate, still following the forests edge (crossing a fence on the way) to the top corner(cross another fence here ). After the forest follow a fence uphill to a fence junction on the crest of the hill, turn left and walk to the small ring contour that is the summit. Great views again, but heavy going through the heather, reeds and tussocky ground to get here, leading one to think gerrym's route may be the best approach. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/737/comment/3859/

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Good Views But Great Views Getting There

Took almost exactly the same route as sandman for a quick, easy walk. The best of the views from the summit are to the south, with the Glenelly Valley being hidden, and only the tops of the higher Sperrins appearing above the forestry to the north. It would have been worth coming here alone for the drive along the southern side of the Glenelly Valley, the road climbing high above it and providing stunning views. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/737/comment/18472/

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gerrym on Spaltindoagh

I reached this top by a rather roundabout and arduous path but this need not be the case - there being easy enough access from NE and SW as my own path took me and other options jump out from the 1:25,000 map. The roundabout route can be seen in the comments for Mullaghbolig and Clogherny Top. Back to the matter at hand - i had a 20 min walk along the road through Glenlark forest, past little Lough Lark where i caused 3 ducks to take flight, to get the other side of Glenlark valley.
As the road emerges from the forest take the fence SW bordering the trees. Heading for the rise here will cut out a dogleg in the fence, saving some time over wet but not too difficult ground rejoining the fence at a pair of old concrete gate posts where i stopped for some fuel. The cool breeze showed the true nature of the time of year that the strong sunshine was trying to hide.There is a long but gradual rise to the top with views impressive to the N where the higher sunlit Sperrins were towering over the immediate forest. From the top i was yet again smacked in the gob by the far reaching sights - peeks at the Antrim & Belfast hills, the Mournes and Cooleys, the long line of the high Sperrins to the N and the Bluestacks beyond the mouth of the Genelly valley to the W.
I dropped down along forest for a mile or so on good ground before heading down through the trees where machinery had been at work. This brought me to a forest track paralleling the river further below. I saw a rare bird here - a gazelle helicopter which chattered along just above the tree tops above the noise of my ipod. Light was disappearing quickly and the near full moon was getting brighter in the sky as the sun dipped. I followed the track to a narrow road which continued to fall towards the river and a left turn onto the Gorticashel rd. The road was closed at Glenlark bridge (which is being rebuilt) but on i went climbing again before turning up onto the shoulder of Mullaghbolig (through farm buildings). This is a steady climb and with the strong moonlight under a clear sky i did not need my headtorch - fantastic and worth all the hours of walking beforehand. Barnes Gap comes and goes and the carpark i set out from some 7 hours and 18.5 miles earlier. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/737/comment/3007/

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Last of the Northern Ireland Summits.

Unless Mountain Views locates some more summits this hill completes my summits of Northern Ireland as the first snow of the 2015/2016 winter season falls in the Sperrins. Parking at A (H64276 89757) take the gate summit side and follow a faint quad track to B (H63414 89931) now at the gate piers without a gate follow the fence to summit area easy going thru out walk. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/737/comment/18392/

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