The 523 metre high Croaghconnellagh is a mountain on the Southern side of the Bluestack Mountains in Co. Donegal. As a child, on trips to Donegal, more often that not we would be driving through the “Barnes Gap” with Croaghconnellagh and Croaghongah forming towering, near vertical sides. When directly under them, I would have to press my face against the car’s side window to take in their full height. They seemed the highest mountains in the world to me. When I took up hill walking it was inevitable that Croaghconnellagh would be high on my list, and so i set off to climb it on a fine day in early October.
The mountain looked inviting as I approached from across the Tyrone/Donegal border at Corgary. Croaghconnellagh is in the centre, with Croaghonagh on the left and Croaghnageer on the right.
Croaghconnellagh on the right.
It was a difficult surface to walk on as I approached from the Northeastern end of Barnesmore Gap through deep heather, coarse grass and uneven ground. Croaghnageer and Browns Hill are in the background.
The walking was much easier with altitude on rocky ground as the granite emerged. A small bog pool here mirrors Lough Mourne in the distance.
A view from the summit across Barnes Gap to Croaghonagh and the road and disused railway line emerging towards Donegal Town.
Another view of Croaghonagh in late afternoon sun.
The rocky summit.
Looking West over Lough Eske to Donegal Bay.
Northwest view over hidden mountain loughs to the higher Bluestacks.
Croaghnageer and Browns Hill
Croaghnageer
A view towards the summit on the Northern side.
Descending by the same route.
