On Learmount Mountain looking towards Dart and Sawel.
My last post was on climbing Dart Mountain in the Sperrins, from a starting point on the Park/Tamnagh Road. After coming down from Dart again, from the same starting point, I took the short walk up on to Learmount Mountain South Top. It was less than a kilometer to the summit up a gentle slope, although the ground was boggy, and nearer the top, seemed to be some sort of peat hag hell. Thankfully the peat hag area was fairly small, and I was compensated by good views on the way up down into Co. Derry.
Looking down the pass taken by the Tamnagh Road into Co. Derry.
Looking back over to Dart and Sawel.
The start of the peat hags near the summit.
The slopes of Mullaghclogha to the southwest.
Learmount Mountain to the north.
Having reached the summit, unmarked on the boggy top, I made for Learmount Mountain, only another kilometer or so to the north. Initially this meant negotiating more peat hags, before emerging on to more open, though very boggy ground.
Making my way through the peat hags – always a bit torturous.
On the short walk between the two summits, good views opened up over the bleak expanses to the west and northwest.
Mullaghclogha.
Views to the northeast.
Dart Mountain.
Sawel.
Arriving at the indistinct summit.
The summit was a broad boggy area, with no defining feature, but offered new views north into Derry.
After a bit of a wander round the summit, I started back towards the car on the Tamnagh Road, keeping to the east of Learmount South Top this time, on ground that inclined a bit more steeply down to the road.
Dart provided a landmark to aim for on the walk back to the car.
Looking back at Learmount as I made my way down.
Some boggy ground to get across.
Across to Sawel.
A short walk, and I was soon back at the car, with three summits reached for very little effort!
Those peat hags look really tricky for walking. How are they formed? They look as if it is something to do with erosion, maybe in the same way that the wood of the fence post has also been stripped back.
There seems to be different opinions on what causes them Jessica, but one of the common theories is sheep farming. There are plenty of other opinions too though, and no definitive answer. They are annoying to walk through though – constantly trying to get up and down off them, with boggy bits in between. Some of them are up to about 2m high – hard on tired legs.
Had seen these 2 on Mountainviews and on the map but they never excited me enough to make the effort. The views look great though, especially the perspective on Dart and Sawel. Great photos.
Cheers Martin. Very boggy up there like most of the Sperrins! Hope to get them all done at some stage.