Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way
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.
| County | Distance | OS Map |
| Londonderry | 5 miles | Sheet 8 |
| Nearest Town | Route Shape | RouteType |
| Maghera, County Derry | Circular | Hill, Mountain, Riverside |
| Terrain | Grid Reference (Start) | Grid Reference (Finish) |
| Open hill, lanes and minor roads | C819045 | C819045 |
| Point of Interest | Altkeeran, a hidden glen; the Emigrants Cairn: Shane's Leaps |
| Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | Sperrins |
| Route Description | The main looped Carntogher Way coded red starts on a quiet minor road and quickly turns to gravel path which climbs the east side of Carntogher Mountain, leading in turn to a section of open grassy mountainside and heathery summit, before returning on gravel paths to the start point. 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. |
| Getting to the Start | Take the Tirkane Road C551 north west out of Maghera for 3 miles and park at the roadside carpark at the Cotter Row C819045 where you see the information sign for the mountain walks. This is the walk start point. Full details on brochure. |
| 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. |
| Accessible Toilet Facilities | No |
| 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. |
| 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 | An Carn Centre 048 79549978 info@ancarn.org www.ancarn.org |
| Links |
| Share on: |  |  |  | Digg |  | StumbleUpon |  |  | Delicious | Help |
2 feedback comments have been left by readers about Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way:
Great family walk - walked on a very sunny June Saturday and saw no one esle all day!
What a fantastic walk, a hidden gem! We walked the Carntogher Way on a wet and foggy day in December. Despite the wet the walk was super, really well waymarked with lots to see along the way. The off-road sections were really wet underfoot but this didn't take away from our enjoyment.
Click on a thumbnail below to view the picture gallery for Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way.
 |  |  | |
Click the link below to open a printer-friendly version of the information for Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way.
Printer-friendly view >Click on the following attachments for maps and further information on Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way.
 | Carntogher_History_Trail |
Walked Slí an Chairn-The Carntogher Way? Let us know what you thought! Click below to rate this walk and leave any comments.
Know a good walk that is not included on the site? Click the button below to suggest a walk to us.
