Speckled Hill

I climbed Croaghbrack on the way back to the N15 from Cloghervaddy, on what had been an extremely wet day, with relentless downpours, only just cleared. I think the name means "speckled hill", and from Cloghervaddy, it appeared that way due to extensive patches of rock. The flat, boggy ground between the two peaks, was the wettest I've walked on, and it felt like it could swallow you at any minute. However it wasn't far, and passing a small lough halfway across, I was soon on the short ascent to the top. The summit, like its neighbour, had a small cairn atop a large rock. The views were excellent around the rest of the Bluestacks and over Lough Mourne, but it was the shapes assumed by the rocks on the hill itself that made the visit really memorable for me. In drier weather, this hill, along with Cloughervaddy, would make a pleasant, short trip, starting by taking the forestry track just East of the carpark on the N15. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/826/comment/15903/

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Bluestacks Circuit

Followed Simon's walk description from Barnesmore Gap and along the firebreak to the open hillside. The ground was pretty dry due to the lack of rain over the previous days and we ascended by a shallow re-entrant directly to the summit. Good views to the north, but a bit nippy, despite the sunny weather. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/826/comment/4709/

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A small but typical Bluestack summit

On Tues. 22 Oct 2013 I left my car in a large Car Park/Picnic Area on the left side of the N15 (coming from Ballybofey) at SheskLub (H04228 87373) and walked back along the road (NE) for about 100 metres to a wide stone and gravel forestry track on the left side. I followed this track gently up through the trees and then out along more open ground with fine views across to Barnesmore, Croaghconnellagh, Croaghnageer and Brown's Hill. After some 2.6 km into the walk I re-entered the forest at C (H04108 88987) and then some 700 metres further along came to a wide forest ride on the left A (H04272 89667) going up diagonally from the track into the trees. I followed it up over long clumpy grass for a further 300 metres to D (H04338 89959) from where I could see the open hillside a short distance away to my left. Passage through the trees was easy and very soon led out to the open ground from where I headed up WNW directly to the top. Initially I climbed up over trackless marshy ground and long grass and then, nearer the top, across some rock bands to gain the wide rock and heather covered summit area so typical of many tops in this range of hills The high point was marked by a small cairn atop a large rocky outcrop at B (H03463 90181). Views W and N were restricted by the higher ridges of the Bluestacks. Rather than return by my outward route I decided to make for the nearby summit of Cloghervaddy which lay to the W across a shallow, barren little valley. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/826/comment/15247/

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