Cnoc Ghleann Gheis [Glengesh Hill]

Rising above the iconic hairpin bends of the Glengesh Pass, this rugged Hump offers a steep, peat-heavy climb with a rewarding Atlantic perspective. The summit provides a grandstand view over the glacial U-shaped valley and out towards the silver sands of Maghera and the waters of Loughros More Bay.

• •The name is derived from the Irish Cnoc Ghleann Gheis, meaning 'Hill of the Glen of the Taboo.' In Irish mythology, a geas was a supernatural prohibition or curse; the name suggests the valley below was once considered a sacred or forbidden place.
• •The summit is a prime vantage point for viewing the Glengesh Pass, a classic example of a glacial valley carved during the last Ice Age, which serves as the high-road link between Ardara and Glencolumbkille.
• •Looking westward from the top, the Atlantic coastline opens up to reveal the distinctive profile of the Slieve League peninsula and the distant, jagged edges of the Donegal coast.
• •You may find the summit surprisingly quiet compared to the viewpoint below, where the sound of struggling engines and the smell of hot clutches provides a constant reminder of the pass's 1-in-4 gradient.