Cro Du

Situated in the rugged interior of County Donegal, this 501-metre peak offers a wilder, more solitary experience than its famous neighbours. Rising above the upper Gweebarra valley, the hill is defined by a landscape of peat hags and granite, providing a raw sense of isolation for those exploring the Donegal highlands.

• •The name is likely an anglicisation of the Irish 'Cruach Dhubh', meaning 'black stack' or 'black rick', a title reflecting the dark, heather-clad appearance of its slopes compared to the lighter quartzite peaks nearby.
• •From the summit, walkers gain a commanding perspective of the Derryveagh Mountains to the north, including the prominent granite mass of Slieve Snaght and the more distant, pointed silhouette of Errigal.
• •The hill sits near the headwaters of the Gweebarra River, and the surrounding terrain is a textbook example of upland blanket bog, providing a vital habitat for flora like bog cotton and sundew.
• •The absence of any formal trails means that your primary navigational aids will likely be your compass and the disapproving stares of the local blackface sheep.