Carnanelly West Top

About Carnanelly West Top

Rising above the remote Glenelly Valley, this subsidiary summit offers a wilder, quieter perspective on the Sperrin Mountains. Often bypassed for its higher neighbour, the terrain here is defined by thick heather and occasional peat hags, providing a genuine sense of isolation for those crossing the ridge toward Sawel Mountain.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Cairn an Eallaigh, meaning 'Cairn of the Cattle,' a reference to the historical practice of 'booleying' where livestock were driven to high summer pastures.
• •From the summit, you can look directly west toward Sawel Mountain and Meenard, the two highest peaks in the range, while the Glenelly Valley drops away steeply to the south.
• •The ground here is quintessential Sperrins blanket bog; in wet weather, the short distance between this top and the main summit can feel significantly longer than the map suggests.
• •It is a summit usually bagged only by those with a completionist streak or a very poor sense of direction in the mist.