[RWD version 1 ] Although they probably don’t realise it, more people have probably seen Luggala Mountain than any other in Ireland. In fact it has been seen by millions of people all over the world, and yet from three sides, it appears like an uninteresting bump in the landscape. The reason for its fame, is that its eastern flank forms the backdrop to Lough Tay, which has featured in countless TV series such as Vikings and The Tudors and movies such as Zardoz, Excalibur & Reign of Fire.
The approach, usually from the NNW, is about 1.7km up a gentle slope, and although there is a faint trail all the way, in parts it is very boggy and degraded. Although the hill isn’t anything to write home about from this angle, I was lucky in that I went up on a fairly bright early morning and was treated to beautifully-coloured sunrise skies. When you reach the high point (marked by a few stones), everything changes. Walk about twenty metre east and the view over Lough Tay is thoroughly spectacular. There are steep cliffs plunging down to the lake, so care is needed not to get too close. The Sally Gap area is notorious for its changeable weather conditions – it is often impassable in winter – and I discovered why on my descent. In the space of 5 minutes, the sky grew dark and a virtual blizzard appeared as if by magic. Luckily I had only 1km of downhill walking left, but by the time I reached my car I looked like the abominable snowman. I didn’t bother changing – I got in and drove before I found myself snowbound and luckily made to it safety in the nick of time! An easy and very reward walk.