Strange sightings on the Mullagh!

Starting point is just west of Bealnamala Bridge (E (H694 891)) where there is room to park several cars.

Walk to bridge and drop down to Moyola river, following the stream coming down along side of forest. Foxgloves and thistles were vying for my attention here with vivid colours. The stream carves out a gully which has a lovely waterfall about 20ft high. Views start to stretch out along the Moyola river valley, past S Gallion to Slemish in the distance. Everytime i stopped on the ascent something new came into focus - the jagged outline of the Mournes, Lough Neagh and Culcaigh.

As the forest ends a track can be picked up (F (H684 896)) which runs along the top of the treeline. Several steel structures which look like mine entrances are present here - what they really are i do not know? Continued uphill past a small communications mast and was greeted by the strange sight of the flatbed of a lorry in the middle of the hill? I was beginning to get a little paranoid now - was there someone watching me??

The long broad top is soon reached - this eastern top being 4m lower than the western top which is a good slog on fairly wet ground following the fence. There was some nice colour on the hill as yellow and purple flowers bloomed and i now had views N to Carnanelly, the tops of Sawel and Dart and the Mullaghs stretching westward. Divis Mtn appeared shly from behind S Gallion and i now had a nice line of hills from Donard to Slieve Foye to the south on a day with clear air.

Dropped down south from the top following the stream all the way to Altbane Bridge and then a 15 minute walk back along the road to the car, taking just over two hours with a lunch stop. Enjoyable walk with some good views and interesting diversions! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/759/comment/5934/

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three5four0 on Mullaghturk

There is just enough space for one car to park on the verge at G (H682 882), just after a gate, where you can access the track leading uphill. After a while the track ends on the hillside, but if you look carefully there is a faint trail leading to an offset fence junction at H (H675 888). Cross the fence and continue uphill to another fence junction on the crest of the hill. The summit lies a short distance to you left, pick the highest piece of turf and enjoy the views, return is by the way of ascent. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/759/comment/3858/

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dr_banuska on Mullaghturk

This is a hill I'd been meaning to climb for some time, being the closest of my 100 locals that I hadn't yet tackled. I parked at the same place as thisbliss, immediately to the east of Altbane Bridge where there are three gates close together. I crossed the gate immediately to the east of the bridge where there are the beginnings of a track heading uphill (which died out almost instantly). Immediately there was an area of excavation and I walked around this via a muddy section to get onto the hill proper.

I aimed towards the western edge of Broughderg Forest and on reaching its boundary crossed a fence about I (H674 886). The terrain heading uphill was tough going, at times you'd be waist high in reeds but more often it was exceptionally tussocky requiring 'much lifting of one's legs' (as I remember someone said in reference to another hill on here, not sure which). I was reminded of Slieve Beagh straddling Tyrone/Monaghan/Fermanagh. I aimed first for a solitary tree up on the hillside then an obvious rise which turned out to be very close to the summit. In typical Sperrins fashion, this was difficult to identify exactly but was close to a meeting of fences.

The ascent had offered an interesting view SE to Slieve Gallion and the upland SW of it taking in the southern Oughtmore & Davagh Forest. The view N which greeted me just as I reached the summit was breathtaking and made the slog worthwhile: the high Sperrins, and most prominently Sawel & Dart, rose majestically above the Glenelly Valley, Sawel's eastern shoulder topped with snow. The view W wasn't so clear sadly.

Wanting to get my bearings, I crossed through a gap in the fence running along the hill's spine and walked some distance down the other side. Heading N towards the Glenelly Valley via Carnanelly/Mullaghbane looked like an enjoyable if very long walk. I spotted an unusual structure off to the W which I aimed for. As I got closer, it turned out to be a large crucifix. The statue of Christ had slipped down and was missing an arm! Nearby there was some sort of modern stone shrine or tomb. I've no idea what the story is here but it was at the same time serene and a little unnerving. After taking some photos I headed back towards the summit and descended again, this time finding the terrain a little easier by keeping close to the edge of the forest. I could see my car down on the roadside so knew exactly where to aim for. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/759/comment/4448/

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eflanaga on Mullaghturk

Accesed via same route as 'thisbliss' from Altbane Bridge. Had a friendly chat with the farmer/owner (who was surveying turf he had cut on Friday last) on the way up. Spent a few minutes trying to figure out the exact location of a new windfarm in the distance, finally settling on a hill near Carrickmore/Pomeroy. As previous contributor suggests the ground is very uneven once you leave the track, although I was able to follow a reasonable line alongside the top of the 'burn' before turning towards the unmarked summit. Expansive views with Cuilcagh, the Cooleys, Mournes all clearly visible. Great views across to the high Sperrins including Sawel & Dart (see pic). Descended by retracing steps as it looked to much of a drag (and time was against me) to work towards the next target - Spaltindoagh. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/759/comment/3840/

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thisbliss on Mullaghturk

The day started brightly in the bann valley, but in the mid-sperrins was quite dull. Travelled from Draperstown out past the Six towns and parked near Altbane bridge (J (H679 882)) where there was a bit of a laybay at side of road. Followed the nearby stream north along its course where it had carved out quite a channel. Found it easier going staying in the gorge as there was thick rushes to either side at the top of the banks. This ended after a while. Thinking i knew better(!) I had not taken proper bearings so headed on across open ground to what appeared to be the summit. Crossed another few streams and a fence, eventually coming to a fence running along the spine of the mountain. This was not near the summit however and had to then turn left and follow the fence west. This took about 30 mins to get there in this indirect way. Visibility was quite limited due to the dull day, an example being that Dart and Sawel were just visible to the NW, which you would easily expect to see from there. Visibility permitting not sure where it would be possible to see as the higher surrounding mountains would probably prevent views of Donegal etc. Antrim hills may be visible through the gap between Sl Gallion/Mulloughmore. Is quite an easy climb due to its gradual climb in height. A sense of being very expansive too. Didnt stay long before heading back. Headed straight back to Altbane picking the path of least resistance through large rush patches before rejoing the stream and then back to the road. Headed on round to Oughtmore(south one) planned to climb it but rain started. Ah well, for another day! Incidentally decent parking spot at forest gate near friars rock H 7 3 4/ 8 4 4if anyone fancies it! Looks like a good hour or more climb from there. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/759/comment/3340/

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