History in the making - Climbing Donegal's biggest sea stacks

amcinroy

I had a fantastic day yesterday with Iain Miller (of Dunkerry fame) and Martin Bonner on one of Donegal's most remote sections of coastline. It was a walk in and a half and the lads somehow managed to get me to carry half their hardware in addition to my tripod and camera gear. Phew.

Their plan for the day was to climb Gull Island on the remote north coast of Slievetooey. This is a fearsome looking seastack, 100m high, and never climbed before. I have to say I have never seen such an awesome bit of coastline, perhaps even more so than Slieve League. This place is Donegal's wildest land.

I was their photographer for the day and kept my feet firmly on the clifftop.

Hopefully these give some idea of what Iain and Martin accomplished. A Donegal first. More men have stood on the moon than have been on this stack.

Tallon

Nice photos, looks like a nice place.
next time invite me :P

Burnt

Nice work Adam, definetely a bit of a trek in & out. Did you get a
chance to check out the cave at maghera when you were there?

Durnish

excellent work. I am so jealous. I look out on that bit of coastline when I stay over in Rosbeg. Walked from Port to Maghera once, absolutely brilliant.

amcinroy

Thanks folks. The photos made p3 of the Irish News yesterday.

Borderfox

Well done Andy, looks great

Tallon

Congrats

Durnish

I saw it in the Irish news, so I did. I agree, it must be Ireland's wildest coastline. When we look at it from the Rosbeg side there are no lights on the whole lump of coast and mountainside. Last light is in the middle of the low Loughros penninsula.

However, I would like to ask how you got to Gull Island. Was it from Port, Straboy thru' Glenlough, or from Maghera?

amcinroy

Cheers folks,

Durnish, we took the direct route straight over Slievetooey. From the farm track at Largybrack we followed the Glen River straight up onto the mountain summit. Then we decended the north ridge in mist before following the outlet stream of Lough Adoochro.

The walk out was hellish. The amount of hardware we were carrying was backbreaking. It wasn't just the two tripods and cameras, lenses etc , but we also carried in 4 ropes, 2 racks of climbing gear, a dinghy (which we didn't need) and various other bits and pieces.

You are correct Durnish about no lights. It is 18km of coastline unspoiled by a single building.

Durnish

gawd luv yez. I walked it one dry August, but worried that someone would twist an ankle or something and need helicoptered out.
A dinghy? Wow.

Wonder if the Ordnance Survey sappers went onto it, circa 1835.
Anyone looked up the Memoirs?

phelixoflaherty

Did it about two years ago in me flipflops

amcinroy

Hehe phelix,

Durnish, if you are interested in this coastline, I strongly recommend your read Iain Miller's climbing reports on the Derry climbing club website.

They make highly entertaining reading and they will give you an idea of the lunacy of this man.

Here's some highlights

Jenga
http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/log_details.php?i=410

November, Indeed!!
http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/log_details.php?i=404

The Daddy Stack
http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/log_details.php?i=381

Should Preshent no Shignificant Problemsh
http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/log_details.php?i=361

Check this photo
http://www.pete-smith.co.uk/dynamic/photo.php?fullsize=13882.jpg

phelixoflaherty

It's true