A great wee hill

Trip report 19 July 2012. We parked by the roadside at grid ref E (H038 940) then followed the four-wheel-drive track northwards to the little forest at grid ref F (H040 955). Continued up steep ground to the north-east, not too wet despite recent poor weather. Surface a mixture of heather and grass, some boggy ground with a couple of ditches, easily crossed or avoided. Fence easily and safely crossed at around 280m then up steep heather slopes to the western end of the summit area, large cairn at east end just over 100m away with remains of wooden structure nearby. Excellent views westwards to the rest of the Blue Stacks, eastwards down the Finn Valley and northwards to Slieve Snaght and Errigal's distinctive spike. Only about 180m of ascent by this route and the round trip took about two hours. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/883/comment/14732/

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From a westerly direction

Climbed on 1/9/2014, following previous comments decided to climb Altnapaste from the west. Started from G (H03735 96680), room to park here for one or two cars. Followed well made track uphill for approx .5km then through a gate onto open hillside and up to obvious col on the hill at H (H04241 95835), then headed uphill in a leftward direction following sheep track to a fence at I (H04418 95814), keeping fence on my right I followed it upwards to it`s highest point and summit lay a few mts up to the left of fence. Fantastic views of Blustacks from here, well worth the effort. 50min roundtrip from car. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/883/comment/17663/

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Small Gem

I climbed this hill back at the end of November but for some reason I didn't log it. Altnapaste is a familiar hill having cycled near it numerous times and having looked at it from many different directions but this was my first time on top.

When I visited there was no uploaded GPS track but using the waypoints and descriptions from other logs I pretty much followed the path that is now uploaded by another member as Track 4576.

The terrain is nice and varied, a clear lane/track for the start/finish and a steep and challenging heather and grass hillside, just enough to test the legs without destroying the fun. Views from the top were fantastic although I didn't hang around too long at the top due to a bitterly cold wind that even the dog had no patience for.

On the way back down I stopped in the small plantation for a very peaceful and enjoyable lunch break before walking back to the start into a glorious sunset.

Cracking little hill, one of the best walks for a while and more than worth the effort.
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➡️ More photos and videos on my blog: https://niallharran.com/2021/12/28/hike-altnapaste/
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. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/883/comment/23373/

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Small hill but worthy of the climb

I climbed this small hill on Wed. 17 July 2013 starting at A (H03788 94017), as suggested by Wildcat. As I walked NNW down the stone and gravel track a local man, heading out to cut turf, stopped and gave me a lift to a gate across the track some 1.2km further along. Once through the gate it was a short walk to where the track turned sharply left at a small tree plantation F (H040 955). Leaving the track I headed up the slope NE keeping the trees on my left . Due to the recent dry weather the ground was soft and springy but would at other times be quite boggy in the initial stage of the climb. On the way I crossed a fence at C (H04178 95602). Continuing NE I picked up another fence heading up in the same direction. At its high point this fence is only a few metres from the prominent summit cairn at D (H04550 95983). Allowing some time at the top to take in the magnificent panorama in all directions this is a walk that can be done comfortably in two hours (even if the walker is not offered a lift along the initial track!!). To the N I saw Slieve Snaght and the ridge along to Dooish with the sharp peak of Errigal and the outline of Muckish further back. Most prominent however was the view W and S to the Bluestacks with the prominent line of tops running from the Barnesmore Gap NNE to Gaugin Mt . I returned by way of ascent, this time without the offer of a lift on the track back up to the car. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/883/comment/15049/

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No Challenge, Just Great Views

Went up via the well described route along the farmer's track from the northwest. Not a challenging or high hill, but well worth it for the views, east along the River Finn for miles, north to the Derryveagh Mountains, and west and south to the rest of the Bluestacks. The views west along the Reelan River past Gaugin Mountain were particularly eye-catching. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/883/comment/18371/

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