The Corgaries |
| Location: Mountain Bike Routes Grade: D - Length: 40m |
| First ascent: A.Tees, 27th Nov 1990 |
| Route Description: |
| Route 8, The Corgaries This route wends its way through the wild border area South of Barnesmore Gap, surely the biggest wilderness area in the North West. Heavily forested, the remoteness of this area was exacerbated by the fact that cross border access roads were cratered by the army during the troubles, and the few habitations passed are usually derelict. Start, at the legendary Biddy o Barnes ( an old wayside public house where the fire reputedly never went out during the occupancy of the innkeeper Biddy) Gr G019 845, at the Western end of Barnesmore Gap. Cycle back up through the Gap towards Ballybofey, but as you turn right at gr 052 885 towards Castlederg on the old unapproved road (about 20 mins), you quickly swop the snarling traffic for solitude. Continue down this narrow tarmaced road for about 6 Km, just past Sruhangarve Bridge to where signs for KIlleter Forest appear, and turn right at Gr 109 871 up into a forestry track and the Sixth Corgary. After a short distance there is a crossroads (not marked on my map) but keep left at this and continue through the forest, climbing gradually. Ar Gr 097 844 the main track seems to swing left (also not marked on my map) but keep on straight up the hill, before descending the other side of Cross Hill to regain tarmac at a T junction beside the river Gr 089 818. Turn left (there used to be a campsite here) and after a short distance turn right at Big Bridge. A tarmac road leads west, rounding a small lake (loughahull) and Derg Lodge (in ruins) before descending slightly to Kelly’s Bridge, another remote border crossing, the bridge reinstated since the troubles (Just over 2 hours from the start). Coillte forestry takes over on the far shore. The first turn left will lead down to Lough Derg for those who require more exercise or some spiritual renewal/religious penance, but our route continues up the hill and then westwards along the flank of the hill to fork right at gr 033 781 at Meenadreen onto another cart track. Soon this begins a long rough potholed descent past the scenis L Cuill to join the minor road linking the west end of Barnesmore Gap to the village of Laghey. Turn right at Gr 981 775, and follow this road for approx 6 Km until it joins the old Barnesmore Gap Donegal Town Road. This gives a quieter alternative to the new trunk road for a while, but the main road has to be joined for the last kilometre or so back to Biddy’s. 4 hours, 40 km, mainly deserted forestry tracks and minor roads. Maps, OS of NI Sheet 12 (Strabane) 1;50,000 (Part of route), and Discovery Sheet 11 1:50,000 ( all of route, but less detail). |
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Route Number: 2745