On 9 February 2010 I climbed Moneyoran Hill as an offshoot from a walk around the Carntogher Way. I started at
A (C81845 04530) which is reached by the Tirkane Road NW out of Maghera. Initially I followed the road NW for about 800 metres to
B (C81197 05002) where I turned left over a stile to follow a "green road" up to the open hillside, marked with red waymarks for the Carntogher Way. At a stout post,
C (C80420 04723), the track swings right past a lone tree on the left and continues up over a stile and alongside an ancient raised ditch to a T junction. At this new more distinct stoney track I turned left and followed it along for a short distance to the distinct rocky up crop of Carntogher. At
D (C79639 05824) seats have been placed where one can sit and enjoy the splendid views. Nearby at the high point of the track is a large stone cairn " The Emigrants Cairn" at
E (C79581 05814), said to have been built by emigrants travelling to the port of Derry by this ancient road and leaving a small stone to mark the spot which gave them their last view of home before setting out for the New World. From here the Carntogher Way goes right along the E flank of Carntogher. However I continued N up the rocky face to the flatish summit of the hill at
F (C79642 06095), marked by a large wooden post and small plaque. From here I headed NNW for Moneyoran Hill some 1.4km away with its distinct rounded top and clear patch of green near the top (see photo). Initially I walked down to a fence junction at
G (C79338 07120)5 before climbing up the gentle slope to the flat top. There is nothing marking the summit and any one of several heathery bumps could mark the "top". Indeed the given grid reference, if anything, seems slightly lower than other possible high points! eg
H (C79318 07496). Whatever the truth of the matter, the immediate summit area is so flat as to ensure ones head is higher than any point around!!! On ground slightly lower than the summit are three large boulders where one can sit and contemplate as to just where the summit might be. From the summit area I headed down the slope SSE and then up, across some fences, over the N shoulder of Carntogher to meet a good stoney track not marked on the OS map at
I (C79923 06315). I turned left and after some 150/200 metres along passed a marker for the Carntogher Way coming in from the right . From here I continued on down along the track, following once again the distinct red waymarks for the Carntogher Way, The panorama on the walk down was simply magnificent streatching from Slieve Gullion in Armagh, along the Mournes to the Belfast and Antrim Hills and ending in views of Knocklayd and Rathlin Island on the North Antrim Coast. On the way down I crossed a number of stiles to a T junction and minor road at
J (C82186 05651) where I turned right. The tarmac soon deteriorated into a stoney and muddy track which I followed along back to the car park. In all a very satisfying walk.
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