Errigal & Muckish

Mt.Errigal

Mt. Errigal, which looms over Dunlewey is 752 metres high and is one of Irelands highest peaks. It is a beautiful mountain to climb but if you are going to attempt it pay attention to the weather. It is very dangerous to climb on a misty, windy or rainy day. When the mountain is covered in cloud it is very hard to see.

There are two paths to take, the easier path to go is around 5km and takes about 2 hours. The longer way is about 3.3km walk along the northwestern ridge which involves scrambling over scree for about 2 and a half hours. Details of the walks are available in Dunlewey Lakeside Centre.

Muckish Mountain

Muckish is a mountain, it is a good place for walking. When you get to the top there are a lot of stones, people throw them off for good luck. On the top there is a huge cross. Years ago men used to quarry out sand and it would be taken away to a foreign country and it would be made into glass. Here is a poem by local poet Eddie Mc Cafferty about Muckish

O mountain so lofty,
I see you today,
so tall and majestic
'Neath sky Dark and gray.

I saw you in summer
'neath sky bright and blue
And i climbed to your summit
The country to view.

I passed by the carnan,
And added a stone
perhaps to the grave
of some hero unknown.

he might be a prince
or a warrior bold
Ormaybe the son
of some labera of old

whose ardent desire,
Or dying request,
was high on the hill-top
to be laid to rest.