Carntogher Way – Slí an Chairn
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 Londonderry
Distance 6.1 miles
OS Map Sheet 8
Terrain Open hill, lanes and minor roads
Nearest Town Maghera, County Derry
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference C819045
Route Type Hill, Mountain, Riverside
The main looped Carntogher Way coded red starts on a quiet minor road and quickly uses a gravel path to climb 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. 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.
Altkeeran, a hidden glen; the Emigrants Cairn: Shane’s Leaps
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.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
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.
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Walk Route
Carntogher Way – Slí an Chairn
Walked this today, its been fairly dry for several weeks, but the walk was still damp on the boggy sections. Estimate 25% bog, 40% gravel path, 35% public road. I walked clockwise. I dont think anticlockwise would be any easier.
Cant imagine walking this route in the wet, i dont think it would be very enjoyable. If it is wet, proceed up the road further and you will see a track on the left, this is a linear walk up and back to Carntogher summit which is all on a gravel path.
Great views from the top, there are a few benches to sit down for a cup of tea! Very few people around. There were 4 stiles to cross (i think) – no barbed wire trouble on any of them for me.
Decent waterproof boots for this route are a must have.
Feb 27th 2021
Dry cold day though dull and low cloud.
Nice walk, not very strenuous. First part of hill is boggy but dry afterwards. It’s a pity about the low cloud the day we went as views at the top were limited. On the way down, we crossed a stile that someone had thoughtfully strung a stand of barbed wire across! Nice afternoon out, took about 3 hours there and back with short stop at the top.
8 May 2018. Walked the Carntogher Way (Red Trail) in beautiful sunshine. Took 3 hours. Very well marked and in good condition.. Fabulous views. Well worth the effort.