Climbing Mount Errigal: Parking, The Trail + Hike Guide

Climbing Mount Errigal in Donegal on a clear day really is hard to beat.

With its dramatic shape and pointed summit (it looks even more imposing in winter), Errigal Mountain near Gweedore is a sight to behold.

The tallest and steepest of Donegal’s Seven Sisters range, Errigal soars up to an impressive 2,464 ft and it’s one of the more popular hikes in Donegal.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know if you plan on heading off on the Mount Errigal hike, from where to park to what to expect en route.

Although climbing Mount Errigal is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location

The start point for the Mount Errigal walk is a 20-minute drive from Falcarragh, a 25-minute drive from Dungloe and Dunfanaghy and a 35-minute drive from Letterkenny Town.
2. Parking

The Mount Errigal car park is located along the R251 road (here on Google Maps) and it fits around 10 to 12 cars depending on how people have parked. Keep in mind it gets very busy on fine summer days.
3. Length and difficulty

The Errigal Mountain hike that we outline below is around 4.5km in length and should take between 2-3 hours to complete, depending on how long you spend at the summit taking in the views. This is a moderate to strenuous hike and some knowledge of mountain navigation is needed.
4. A new path to the summit

There’s now a gravel path that runs for a good chunk of this trail along with stone steps in places, too.
5. Numerous trails

There are several different ways to tackle the Mount Errigal hike, each of which varies in length and difficulty. Below, we look at the most popular and arguably the most straightforward of the trails.
About Errigal Mountain

If you’re looking for active things to do in Donegal, a morning spent conquering Errigal Mountain really is hard to beat.

At 2,464 ft high, this is the highest peak in the Seven Sisters and it’s the tallest peak in the Derryveagh Mountains. If you tackle the Mount Errigal hike on a fine day, you’ll have views of everywhere from Slieve Snaght in north Donegal to Sligo’s Ben Bulben.

It’s a welcome sight as you spin around this corner of Donegal, especially at sunset as, thanks to its quartzite composition, it takes on a striking pink hue when the sun starts to drop.

According to legend, Errigal Mountain was named by the Fir Bolg – the forth group of people to settle on the island. The name means ‘oratory’ in Irish.

However, unlike Croagh Patrick, there’s no church to be found around the mountain itself, so it’s believed that the name may refer to the mountain itself being a place for worship.

Detailed info at:
https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/climbing-mount-errigal/