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| Click on this image for our track in Google Maps |
There's rain on the horizon...
As a matter of fact, a few counties, including Donegal, have just being placed in status yellow starting from this evening, on account of anticipated heavy precipitations.
Still, with the ground being dry from about a whole week without rain, I decided we'd try our luck in the Donegal "midlands", and especially around the Fintown area, where being able to avoid the regular dampness of some of its walking areas can be a big plus.
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| Aghla Mountain, its summit covered by clouds, with Lough Muck at its foot |
Now, our original plan was to skirt Lough Muck and climb Aghla Mountain, which is something you want to do with dry underfoot conditions. Considering that I'm doing this hike about once a year, I do recall all too well the many times I ended up with thoroughly soaked boots, after the climb down towards the lake.
Alas, as you can see from the picture above, the cloud ceiling stuck at around 500m, with no break in its cover, which killed the prospect of a climb of Aghla in decent visibility. Not that it would have bothered us that much before, but since we now have to take some pictures for you guys... Besides, even if it is presently light, the rain has definitely arrived and we'd hate to start a long climb only to be greeted by much heavier downpours...
Therefore, we're gonna switch plans, and head for the long ridge on the other side. This may account for much less of a challenge, but that'll still do just fine for a Sunday walk.
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| A typical isolated stone well/hut |
Thus we head, first past the round stone structure that, to this day, I am still unsure the use of (you find these dotted in isolated fields all across Donegal, always with some kind of "reverse staircase" entrance, but they always seem a bit too dry to be a well), and head across fences directly for the ridge.
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| Heading towards the ridge |
Despite the very light rain, which isn't exactly bothersome, the underfoot conditions are pretty good for this light climbing, and we are already getting some very good views of Lough Muck. It's really a pity Aghla is in the clouds, otherwise I would have some more decent pictures to show you.
Presently, as we are getting close to reaching the top, we are passing a set of inclined strata that looks like a staircase that's been been tilted 45°.
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| Maybe a staircase for the drunk giants, that are known to inhabit this place... |
This is what is nice about this region: whereas you might think the landscape could be a bit monotonous, it is anything but. For instance, if you set your gaze towards the east, you'll be greeted by the lush greens of the pine forests on the the foothills of the Blue Stacks:
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| These Blue Stacks in the distance certainly look inviting... but they are just a bit too cloudy today. |
Then, on the other side, you get to glance over tranquil Fintown, along with its eponymous lake. They're so close you feel like you could reach your hand and touch them:
As an aside, we do happen to like Fintown. Sure, it may not look like much as a town, on account of the dwellings being mostly lined up on either side of the road. Yet, it is surrounded by the promises of the countless walks one can undertake in the wilderness that surrounds it from any direction. Just a mere few minutes' stroll, and the world's your oyster. After all, we almost tried to look for a house here, once we decided to move away from Dublin, on account of this.
Plus, this town does have a railway!
It doesn't matter if the tracks don't go more than a couple km, and whether it's mostly a tourist attraction, there is just something about living close to a railway line...
But we're not done with our cornucopia of different sights. As you come down from the top of the ridge, you'll come across a young spruce forest, providing yet another completely different feel for the place:
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| Is it Ireland? Or is it the North-West U.S. coast... |
And then, a few hundred metres further, you can get into some typical Irish bogland, flush with its typical elevated mounds:
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| If you want a challenge, you may try jumping from mound to mound, instead of skirting the area |
All this in a matter of minutes. Never a dull moment walking around these parts, I tell you...
Still, I could go on, especially as we have now climbed down the ridge in order to take a different route back. Maybe you'd prefer a typical old farm, replete with sheep, at the foot of the hills? Can do!
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| Just your typical old hillside farm |
Or how about some fishermen on Lough Finn?
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| Good catch, I hope |
I guess, this short picture show will have to do for today. If you want more, you know where to head to!
Suggested Sound Track
An easy pick, considered how I decided to switch sides at the last minute. You can call me a turncoat all you want!
While The House Carpenter's Daughter is a great album, it still pales in comparison to Tigerlily IMO, which is a stunning work of art.
Don't despair yet - you'll probably hear me pick a song or two from that other album when time is ripe...
Additional Pictures
