Colmcille Climbers

Counties Donegal, Tyrone, and Derry,

The Ride

Established in 2011, this continues the famous USA east coast trail across the province of Ulster from Sl. League in the west, to Larne in the east, where it crosses to Scotland.  This is a walking trail, much of it ‘piggy backing’ on existing waymarked routes such as the Bluestack Way, Ulster Way,  Sperrins Scenic Route, and some of it is unsuitable for biking, so the closest alternative route is provided, and indeed quite a bit of the route is already covered in routes described in the guide.   As this guide is only for the North West area, our route description will cease at the river Bann, just short of Coleraine, but details of the attractive Antrim Coast sections can be found on the Internet under www.walkni.com

As this is very long route, only brief details are provided, and the sections are largely based on the walkni model.

Section 1. Bunglas to Glenties.  Map OS 1:50,000; Sheet 10 &11.

Start at Bunglas Gr  G 571 755  the famous viewpoint over the Slieve League cliffs, descend and turn left into Carrick.  Take the Glencolmcille Road, but fork left past L. Auva to Malinmore, and turn right into Glencolmcille.  North of the village, a track climbs steeply over Glen Head and down into An Port        (see route 13, which covers this route in reverse).  Follow a track and then a minor road east around Crockuna Hill and descend Granny’s Glen ( see route 12) continuing along the south shore of Loughros Beg Bay and into Ardara.  The N56 leads on to Glenties ( hostels and hotel).  70Km.

Section 2. Glenties to Killeter Map OS 1:50,000 Sheet 11 & 12

Follow the R253 ( Reelin Bridge Road) and turn right across the Owenea River at Gr 826 933 onto a track.  This climbs, then levels out, rejoining a minor road at Tullynadoobin after just over 3 Km of narrow path. Follow this road south west to join the R262.  Leave this left at Gr 845 825, and utilise a network of minor roads (see Tour De Bluestacks route) to cross the col between Banagher Hill and the main Bluestack Range, and descend to Lough Eske. Turn right, cross the main Ballybofey to Donegal Town road, and follow minor roads and tracks to Kellys Bridge, and the border (see Route 11 the Corgaries).

At Big Bridge Gr 092 816, leave the Corgaries Loop, and keep right (eastwards) on minor roads into Killeter.  55km.

Section 3. Killeter to Gortin OS 1:50,000 Sheet 12

Leave Killeter in a south easterly direction, rounding the Hill, before continuing  north east into Killen Village.  The route then follows minor scenic roads east, crossing the  B50 (Castlederg to Drumquin road), and continuing north east to Baronscourt forest, either rounding Bessy Bell on its south flank, or over the top, by a wind farm track, to the Strule river.  This is crossed at a bridge, and the route continues to the west end of the extensive Gortin Glen Forest Park.  There would be a number of options through the park, but the route crosses the Omagh to Gortin road near the main car park entrance to tracks on the left hand side of the road, before recrossing just over the watershed, turning right, and following signs to the scenic lakes ( see route  18). After passing the lakes, the route dog-legs back, and descends to a T junction. Turn left into Gortin Village.  58 km

Section 4. Gortin to Dungiven.  OSNI  1:50,000 sheets  8 , 13 and 7 (or Sperrin Activity Map)

Leave Gortin towards Plumbridge, and just after the bridge, take the first right and immediately left, uphill, to join a high road traversing the south flank of Craignamaddy hill, east to Barnes Gap ( see route 19).  Through the gap, keep right and follow a belvedere, Corramore Road , overlooking the Glenelly Valley, dropping into Sperrin Village after about 9 km.  Climb over a broad col by Goles Forest , descend, and take the first left around Crockbrack, and turn left into Moneyneaney. 37km

The walkers trail to Dungiven  goes over Mullaghmore into Glenshane Forest, then tracks the main Derry to Belfast road, the last bit on the busy A6.  The open hillside of Mullaghmore would be heavy going on a bike, so I would much prefer to use the much more direct, and scenic, Banagher Forest to approach Dungiven.

On leaving  Moneyneaney, stay on the B40 Feeney road over the hill, leaving it on the right at Gr 702 007, into the forest, and following forestry tracks along the banks of the Glenedra stream down to the Banagher Glen Nature Reserve car park ( see Route 14 ‘Beats Banagher’). From there, a quiet  road leads north east into Dungiven. 53 Km.

Section 5. Dungiven to Castlerock. OSNI 1:50,000 Sheets 7, 8 and 4

Whilst the walkers trail utilises the track up Ben Bradagh and open country down into Gortnamoyagh Forest, this seems unnecessarily hard work, and perhaps it is better to follow the North Sperrins Scenic Route (or B64) north east to Legavannon Pot, taking the next left at a 5 road junction and bypassing on the west Donald’s Hill and Cam Forest, before joining the B66 Limavady to Aghadowey Road. Turn right and after 2 km, left, into Springwell forest where a forestry track leads across to the main Limavady to Coleraine Road ,A37.  This is very busy, but with a good hard shoulder, go right and take the next forestry road (windmills) to the left, which leads across to what is known locally as the Murder Hole Road.  Be not intimidated, and turn left to Gr C 726 277, turn right and climb along the edge of the forestry until close to the mast on top of Harkins Hill where you will get back on tarmac.  A couple of dog legs later, you are cruising along Bishops road on the escarpment with great coastal views to the left, to Downhill.  A short climb out of Downhill will bring you to the entrance to the Mussenden Temple and the Bishops Palace gardens.  There is a path into Castlerock from here, or you can follow the main road into this attractive resort at the mouth of the river Bann. 60km.

The next sections, which follow the stunning north Antrim Coast, starts on the other side of the river and is outside the area of this guide.  For Details see www.walkni.com.