Carntogher Way - Slí an Chairn

About

This walk on the hills above the Glenshane Pass gives access to historic Carntogher Mountain with views across Lough Foyle to Errigal and Muckish in Donegal, Sawel and the high Sperrins, and south-east to The Mournes and Slieve Gullion. Mentioned in the early Iron Age tale Táin Bó Cuailgne, the area is rich in mythology and archaeological heritage and a number of monuments remain visible in the landscape.

Please note: The Seefinn Trail is currently closed to carry out maintenance and will reopen in Early 2019.

Start Point:
C819045

Finish Point:
C819045

Route:
The main looped Carntogher Way coded red starts on a quiet minor road, turning off this to grassy mountainside followed by a gravel track climbing the eastern side of Carntogher towards the heathery summit. Following what can be a boggy track below the summit, descent is by further gravel tracks and the minor road back to the start point.  Sections of this route can be boggy underfoot. Appropriate footwear is recommended. This route has a shorter alternative coded blue called the Skelp trail. There is an alternative lower level route coded yellow, the Seefin Trail*, which begins at the carpark and follows a stream through the Pollan Bog with boardwalk in the wetter places, and around Seefin Hill before returning along the same stream to the carpark (* the Seefin Trail is currently closed for maintenance works and will be reopened in early 2019). 'The main looped Carntogher Way coded red starts on a quiet minor road, turning off this to grassy mountainside followed by a gravel track climbing the eastern side of Carntogher towards the heathery summit. Following what can be a boggy track below the summit, descent is by further gravel tracks and the minor road back to the start point.'The main looped Carntogher Way coded red starts on a quiet minor road, turning off this to grassy mountainside followed by a gravel track climbing the eastern side of Carntogher towards the heathery summit. Following what can be a boggy track below the summit, descent is by further gravel tracks and the minor road back to the start point.

Distance:
5.6 miles

Terrain:
Open hill, lanes and minor roads

Point of interest:
Altkeeran, a hidden glen; the Emigrants Cairn: Shane's Leaps

Facilities:
There is a craft shop with post office, tourist information and coffee corner nearby at An Carn Centre C796061 with disabled carparking and toilets, which you pass on the Tirkane Road on the way to the walk start point.

Publication:
Details of all local walks are included in the Carntogher History Trail guide and map including walking trail maps of Carntogher Mountain and Drumnaph Wood.

Publication availability:
Contact: An Carn Centre, tel: 048 79549978 or email: info@ancarn.org or on www.ancarn.org. Also available to download on this webpage.

Nearest town:
Maghera, County Derry

OS map:
Sheet 8

Accessible terrain:
The lower sections of the Carntogher Way are accessible as a linear route for approximately 3km where the Tirkane Road skirts the bottom of the mountain. The road at this point is very quiet and includes both tarred and gravel sections. The gravel sections can be potholled at times. The higher sections include a number of stiles and some steep slopes, while the Seefin Trail has a number of stiles.

Accessible signage:
The trails are signed with colour coded wooden signage showing direction of travel arrows.