Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Donegal

Headed up on a solo mission to Donegal. With the ambitious plan of visiting every area in the county (bar Polldoo). I fell at the last hurdle as I wasn't able to find Rubinoid Point. The directions in the guide are woeful, you would be very lucky to find them using it. Those directions have been around for 5 years, just goes to show either that no one tries to go there. After wasting time searching for a while I head to Dunaff Bay on the other side of Inishowen, its a really nice spot. Lovely wave washed granite that is smooth but still has some bite. Loads to do there. I was very pleasantly surprised. Didn't have time to go to Fanad Head which is a few km across the water but a massive drive away.


Had curry chips in the Chineser in Bunbeg - best I have ever had.

Spent all of the next day wandering around in the pissing rain looking at wet rock. Then in the evening did the long drive to Malin Beg. Drove over Glengesh Pass on what must be the steepest road in Ireland. After a diversion causeed by a landslide I arrived in Malin Beg. It felt like the end of the world. The hostel owner said it would take over 3 hours to drive from Malin Beg in the south west to Culdaff in the north east.

The weather was better in the morning, checked out Malin Beg, thought it was pretty limited to be honest. Then went on to Muckros Head which was wet and wavy, checked out some of the bouldering that had been previously documented, I thought it looked shite. Rock was sharp I suppose the lines where ok. Miles of this sort of thing on Inishmore. Maybe some of the stuff under the cliff proper is better.

3 comments:

  1. Dave I was able to find Ruboinid point using the directions in the guide,so I'm pretty sure they're correct, although I had been there many years previously which helped.
    Regarding Muckross, there isn't much and its not worth going there just to boulder but some of the problems are pretty good, particularly Jesus and White van man. Did you do these?
    Fanad is not bad. Like Dunaff but a bit steeper with sandy landings. Better than Dunaff in my oppinion.

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  2. I'm sure they are correct, they just aren't very useful. Didn't get to climb while I was there, it was pissing and high tide. Do you have any shots of bouldering in Donegal? I will send you an email in the next few days with some stuff to look over if that's ok?

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  3. Hi Dave,

    No bother drop me a line and I'll see if I can help. I'm not sure if I have many good shots but I'll have a look and ask around. Any venues in particular?

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