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ACHILL
Day 3. Ascend Croaghaun, via Slievemore village and Annagh.
4. To the Tonatan Valley and rabbit warren, about 2m. E. of Dugort.
This means, what with coming and going, a week devoted to Achill, even supposing the weather proves no hindrance. A less ambitious plan is to combine days 2 and 3.
For less leisurely travellers we recommend the following :
1. Ascend Croaghaun (via Slievemore village and Armagh), an easy 4 hrs. Descend to Keem, about 1 hr. Walk to Dooagh, 3 m., or Keel, 5 m. A car can meet you at either of these places, but if the weather is favourable you should, from Keel, get a boat and view the grand Menawn Cliffs (Cathedral Rocks). Drive back from Keel to Dugort. In case the boat excursion is considered too much for the end of the day, then next day
2. Drive to Keel, take a boat past the Menawn Cliffs to Dooega and Camport. Walk to the Sound, 5 ½ m., which the mail-car leaves at 1.30 p.m. for Westport.
Achill and Slievemore
The seal caves ; the Tonatan Valley and rabbit warren; and Slievemore may well be explored by those who make a sojourn at Dugort, but they are none of them of first-rate importance. The ascent of Slievemore (2,204 ft.) is a mere matter of grind and is perfectly simple. The form of the mountain is not interesting, and it is a finer object to look at than to climb. The view, though very extensive and enjoyable in clear weather, does not differ much from the view from Croaghaun, except that it lacks the paramount feature of majestic cliffs.
The Croaghaun Excursion. This will require an early start if you plan a visit by boat to the Menawn Cliffs. There is a choice of routes. You can either walk to the top and descend to Dooagh, whence a car could be ordered to fetch you; or vice versa. The other alternative is to drive to Dooagh, and keep the car whilst you ascend and return. Car for the day, 10s., plus driver, about 2s. 6d.
We briefly describe the first route. From Dugort take the road up the valley, but instead of turning left at the angle of the road (nearly 1 m.), proceed VV. along the flank of Slievemore. The considerable lake seen below on the left is Keel Lough. About 2 m. from starting you reach Balla, and on the hill-side above it is the so-called “Druid’s Altar,” which is, of course, nothing of the sort. Then comes the long straggling collection of huts constituting Slievemore Village, and conspicuous ahead is also an old Signal Tower (about half way), on the E. end of the ridge of Annagh; the W. end of this ridge is 893 ft., and it is worth keeping along lt for the fine view of the coast (terminated W. by Saddle Head) and over Blacksod Bay to the Duvillaun Islands and the Mullet. The pool at the foot of the inland escarpment of the sea-board is
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