Colmcille Climbers

Map OSNI 1;50,000 Sheet 17

The Ride.

Starting and finishing in the charming border village of Belleek, this route ascends to  a watery wilderness in County Donegal,  returning across the flanks of Breesy Hill, (even at 258m, a prominent landmark in the area),  on a rough track, before a long pleasant downhill cruise back into Fermanagh and the village.  There is a very good thatched coffee shop, and several friendly hostelries in the main street.

Mostly tarmac or forestry standard track, but with approx 1km rough open country (with only the vague trace of the road that was marked on the map).  This can be avoided by taking a parallel road.

Time 3 hours.  Height gain 320m,  Distance 26km

Approach

From Enniskillen follow the A46 towards Ballyshannon, turning right beyond Lower L.Erne into Belleek Village.

The route

From the village centre follow the main Kesh road eastwards for just under 4 Km to Gr 98100 59800, just before a right hand bend, and turn left, off this busy thoroughfare.  Follow this narrow road around the northern shores of Lough Scolban ( this is also the current route of the Ulster Way) turning left at a T junction at Gr 00900 61000.  After about 1 Km, turn left uphill at Gr 01650  61750, ignoring the fact that it is marked as ‘No Through Road’ on signage.  (If you don’t fancy a bit of ’off road’ and probably wet feet, continue to where the minor road you are on, rejoins the main Kesh road, and turn uphill there).

The wet feet candidates continue past Tullyderg and Lower Curragh before the road become a track, descending for a short period into swampy oblivion, before rising again and skirting some trees on their right hand side.  Soon a thin path leads into an old farmyard and rejoins the road that the dry foot brigade will have chosen.

Horizons are suddenly broadened as this elevated remote road skirts a lough, and signs appear to explain to the very odd German, who might choose this way to enter the republic, that he must drive on the left.  The road climbs past Lough Vearty to a cross roads where a sharp left is chosen leading along the shores of Lough Tullynasiddagh.   Keep left at a fork* and soon this becomes a cart track which climbs across the eastern flanks of Breesy Hill.  A ruined farmhouse is passed, with a nearby abandoned mobile home, before the track turns west, and distant views emerge of Ben Whiskin and the Dartry Mountains near Sligo.  Ignoring all turns, tarmac  and human habitation will make a gradual appearance, and you reach a junction at Gr  94000 61900, Garryderg, where  you turn left, downhill.

Mostly freewheeling from here, and  about 3 Km later ,the village of Belleek is regained.

* Another alternative is to turn right here, visit some more lakes, before turning left at Kieby, Gr 93000 65000, and rejoining the described route at Garryderg.