Lavagh Beg

About Lavagh Beg

Situated in the rugged Bluestack Mountains of County Donegal, this Hewitt offers a remote and wild experience. Often overshadowed by its higher neighbor, Lavagh More, it provides a quieter summit with excellent views over the dark waters of Lough Belshade and the jagged ridges of Gaugin Mountain to the west.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'Leamhach Beag', which translates to 'the small place of the elms'. While elms are scarce at this elevation today, the name likely refers to the sheltered glens on the lower approaches to the Bluestacks.
• •It is most commonly climbed as part of a high-level traverse from its loftier neighbor, Lavagh More, which sits less than two kilometers to the west. The col between the two provides a relatively straightforward link compared to the rougher ground found elsewhere in the range.
• •From the summit, walkers have a superb perspective of Lough Belshade to the south, a remote corrie lake hemmed in by the steep, granite walls of Gaugin Mountain.
• •The ascent from the south-west via the Reelan River valley is arguably the most scenic approach, passing through some of the most isolated moorland in Ireland where golden plovers are frequently spotted.
• •In the Bluestack Mountains, the term 'straightforward ground' is often used by locals as a relative term, usually indicating you will only be knee-deep in peat hags for half of the afternoon.