gerrym on Croaghmeen

Croagmeen is part of the low range of hills to the south of the Barnesmore Gap, a bleak and remote area with the main Bluestacks to the north and heavy forest bordering to the east and south. Started from Barnesmore Gap, visiting Cruach Eoghanach first and getting a birds eye view of the expanse of hills and loughs.

Dropped down past Lough Napaste and to the slopes of the neatly hidden Croaghonagh lough (E (H036 846)). Contoured around to meet the fast flowing stream flowing from lough Namaddy - all these loughs were useful navagational aids as u can tell. A short climb brought the first of the wind turbines of Barnesmore Windfarm (run by Scottish Renewables, with the same signage as that at Colin Top in the Antrim Hills). This was fittingly cold and grey to go with the leaden sky and bleak landscape. Followed the rough gravel track winding through the widely spaced gaggle of turbines (24 in all) to reach the sizeable jigsaw pieced lough Golagh. The track skirts the lough but i followed its shore east, enjoying the peaceful waters - no fish but no midges either!

There is a whole lotta forest to the east towards the foothills of the Sperrins as reach an electric substation converting all the power of the wind and carrying it away to be used by us civilised people. Reach the southern tip of lough Slug (F (H031 818)) and the track bends south to reach the slopes of Croaghmeen - a low hill with a distinctive bump, actual top another bump further back. Nearly dark so had to wait til morning for views as set up camp beside nice little lough just below top. Some 6.5 miles and three hours of walking to reach here.

PS views are fine - taking in high Bluestacks to north, low lying civilisation reaching to coast to west and the large area of land which is either brown with hills or green with forests.
Cannot help but wonder how more lost one could feel if man hadn't driven roads into the heart of this wild area to exploit the natural resources. That said there was no one on these hills - though did meet a couple of people using the track to the windfarms.

Return was largely by same route, though makes sense to continue south to visit bigger neighbour of Croagnameal first, ensuring have traversed the length of these hills. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/827/comment/3746/

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God bless the wind farm access track

Careful scrutiny of the satellite map revealed a road crossing west to east, north of Croaghmeen.This turns out to be an access track to a wind farm, and although not tarred, has a decent surface. This road can be accessed from the main Donegal to Ballybofey road, before you reach the Barnesmore Gap. If travelling north, take the second turn right after the large church on the right hand side. Go down here for a short distance, take a right at the junction, then your first left. This is the road for the wind farm.
Starting at the road's high point G (H02960 81206) it's a relatively short ascent, though the terrain is a bit on the awkward side. A minor rise is crossed, before passing the diminutive reed-lined Lough Ancarn. There's a final short pull to a featureless summit - take your pick from the couple of heathery rises vying for the highest point.
There's a vast swathe of wild country hereabouts, though wind farms have very much intruded on the landscape. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/827/comment/18604/

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Racing To Beat The Darkness

Climbed via Croaghnameal this afternoon, taking the same route to Croaghnameal as covered in my older comment for that hill. From the summit of Croaghnameal, I headed northeast to one of its lesser summits, then dropped down the steep north slope into the Barnesyneilly valley, before ascending the southern slope of Croaghmeen, keeping to the east of the forest going up.

From the main summit there are good views to the north and the main Bluestacks range. I assume the views to the west are also good, as they are on Croaghnameal, but today was very hazy, and Donegal Bay was barely visible. I continued west to another minor summit at 387m high, passing the little Lough Ancarn on the way. I should have taken a walk to the north from here, as I completely missed seeing Lough Ascolta, only learning of its existence when I got home and checked the map. However, by now, I needed to start back, or risk making part of the journey in the dark. I cut back along the southern slope, well above the forest below until I rejoined my original route, into the valley east of the trees and back up to Croaghnameal.

Quite a hard little walk for two small peaks, but enjoyable with good views when conditions allow. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/827/comment/16023/

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