Damph [An Damh]

Rising above the rugged Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, this 420-metre Tump offers a classic Atlantic upland experience. The terrain is characterized by rough heather and peat, rewarding those who navigate its pathless slopes with commanding views over the deep waters of Lough Swilly and the wild, surrounding Urris Hills.

• •The name derives from the Irish 'An Damh', which translates as 'The Ox'. In many topographical contexts across Ireland and Scotland, this term was also used to refer to a stag, suggesting the hill was once noted for its deer population or as a significant hunting ground.
• •The hill is a prominent feature of the Urris Hills, situated just north of the Mamore Gap. This steep mountain pass was historically the primary route for locals travelling between the remote coastal townlands and the rest of the Inishowen Peninsula.
• •From the summit, walkers gain an excellent perspective of the Fanad Peninsula across the mouth of Lough Swilly, and can clearly identify the higher, quartzite peak of Slieve Snaght to the south.
• •Navigating the local terrain after a typical Donegal downpour provides an excellent opportunity to discover exactly how much water a single patch of peat can hold before it gives way entirely.