Meet the mighty Errigal

As well as being a prominent part of the County Donegal skyline, at 751 metres Errigal is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountain Range which accounts for much of the Donegal landscape. Errigal is truly fascinating – the scree, mounds, ridges, and quartzite boulders detail this land like a historic record, showing evidence of the effects of melting glaciers and landslides from more than 17,000 years ago. This area also offers a huge range of habitats attracting flora and fauna, including the largest area of intact natural blanket bog in the northwest of Ireland, heaths and craggy rock – making it a field day for not only geologists but nature lovers, too.

The hike to Errigal’s summit and back is a steep 5.5km of mixed terrain. The peak greets you with views of Slieve Snaght and Ben Bulben in County Sligo on a very clear day, but this isn’t the only summit on this route! Follow One Man’s Path – a ridge which is only wide enough for, you guessed it… one person – leading from Errigal to a second peak. The second peak offers a unique view of the mountain that you’ve just summited and maybe even double the satisfaction when you tell your friends you reached the top of two mountains! It’s important that you take care especially on this trickier section of the hike and be sure to monitor conditions before and throughout.

If you’d rather stay down on the ground with a view of Errigal, Dunlewey Lough is the place to go. One of our favourite ways to explore the lough is by kayak where an instructor will tell you all about the history and folklore of the area.

Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!