Carntogher

About Carntogher

Sitting at the eastern edge of the Sperrins, this heather-clad upland offers a walk through Irish history. The ascent follows an ancient pass between the Moyola and Roe valleys, leading to a summit marked by significant historic cairns and expansive views toward Lough Neagh and the higher Sperrin peaks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish Carn Tóchair, meaning 'Cairn of the Causeway'. It refers to an ancient trackway crossing the mountain that served as a vital mountain pass for centuries.
• •A notable landmark on the slopes is the 'Emigrant’s Cairn'. Local tradition holds that those leaving for the United States through the port of Derry would stop here to cast a final look back toward their homes before adding a stone to the pile.
• •The hill is a stronghold of local heritage; the surrounding townlands remained a Gaelic-speaking enclave well into the 20th century, long after the language had declined in the surrounding lowlands.
• •From the 464m summit, the view extends east across the Bann Valley to the distinct profile of Slemish in County Antrim and south toward the glittering expanse of Lough Neagh.
• •Despite its classification as a Hump, the terrain underfoot is often more of a sponge, ensuring that even a successful ascent usually concludes with at least one boot full of bog water.