A Stunning Walk-Six Arderins
This is a top class route. It has rock, water, wilderness, and spectacular views. I think the summiteer will purr happily when its all over. It's not often that you will get so many Arderins so conveniently close together (and Slieve Snaght has numerous other rosettes pinned to its forehead).I just love the unique colours of the Donegal landscape: a rich orange/brown flora, a pale blue sky and everywhere there are slabs of light grey stone.When the sun shines it's an awesome environment in a really wild place. It was a Sunday but I met no one. A big contrast to the invariably busy Errigal resting so magnificently nearby.
Starting at Lough Barra
Take a look at how my Track began, and then forget about it! I parked at B92963 12390 which is by the lake and has room for 5 or 6 vehicles. I didn't go straight up - that would have involved scaling a cliff - but I gave into the temptation to move to the left of the cliff and begin a steep ascent, ending in a scramble. The right thing to have done would have been to walk along the road just beyond the northern tip of the lake (you could park a couple of cars in the hardcore clearing at B 93300 12720) and begin a more gradual ascent around the back of the cliff. I ended up worrying that I might slip and reckoned that, if it were not for the week of dry weather, the hazard would have been significant. Not only was my route risky, but it also put my body under sudden severe strain, something to be avoided at my age.. Be sensible and follow Track 3114 to get up to Crockfadda
A Good Start?Statistics
As you can see the walk, including endless stops for food, photos and rest, took me six hours. MV gave me the following breakdown (I'm rounding the numbers):
From Start - Crockfadda - 90 minutes (a tough start)
Crockfadda - Crockfadda NE Top- 25 minutes
Crockfadda NE Top - Slieve Snaght- 60 minutes (hard work up Snaght)
Slieve Snaght-Drumnalifferny Mt 45 minutes
Drumnalifferny Mt - North-East Top 15 minutes
Drumnalifferny NE Top -Bingorms 45 minutes (very little ascent)
- Lunch - 20 minutes
Bingorms - to - Start 60 minutes (VERY steep descent)
Random Glorious MomentsDavid Guenot's Track 2768
You may wish to consider some of David's strategies' particularly the getting up, and the getting down. I suspect that his descent is the way to go, not least because it will bring you into that extraordinary valley. But heed his warnings too.
WARNING
Make sure you make the effort to get out as far as Drumnalifferny North East Top. The views to Errigal are stunning. And you don't need to go back to the main top to get to Bingorms - in fact you can avoid all the ravine hopping by getting into one and contouring round to the col before Bingorms - it's the easiest part of the day. BUT BE WARNED getting down from Bingorms to the road will involve some really steep descent which could be lethal in wet conditions. Utmost care needed.