Overview
Raghtin More (Irish: Reachtain Mhór, and also called Slieve Keeroge locally) is the high point of the Urris Hills, 502 m of quartzite at the western edge of the Inishowen Peninsula. The reason to climb it is the view: from the summit you look down the length of Lough Swilly and north along the coast to Malin Head. It’s a Marilyn, with 407 m of clean prominence, which is why it stands out so sharply from the road despite its modest height. The top holds a prehistoric megalithic cairn and a trig pillar.
The climb
The easiest way up starts high, at Mamore Gap. The pass road already lifts you well up the hillside, so the walk to the summit is short and steep rather than long: open, pathless ground over heather and quartzite, using the cairn and trig pillar as your markers. There’s no waymarked trail once you leave the road.
That lack of a path is the catch. This is exposed hillside, so save Raghtin More for a clear day. In low cloud the broad summit is easy to lose, and you’ll want a map and compass or a GPS rather than good intentions. Underfoot it turns boggy after rain, which around here is most of the time, so wear proper boots and carry a waterproof shell whatever the forecast.
Landscape and wildlife
Raghtin More is built mainly of quartzite, and the thin, acidic soils over it carry the blanket bog that cloaks the upper slopes. In late summer the heather turns them deep purple, threaded with cotton-grass. Golden plover and meadow pipit nest across the open heath, and mountain hares turn up against the peat if you’re quiet. The light is best late in the day, when it rakes across the coastal headlands of Leenan Bay and Dunaff Head.
Practical details
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 502 m (1,647 ft) |
| Prominence | 407 m (a Marilyn) |
| Easiest ascent | From Mamore Gap |
| Terrain | Open heather and quartzite; no marked path |
| Admission | Free |
| Dogs | Welcome; keep on a lead near livestock and in nesting season |
| Facilities | None on the hill; nearest toilets and cafés in Buncrana |
The mountain is open year-round, but Donegal’s weather calls the shots. Late spring through early autumn gives the longest daylight and the best chance of clear coastal views. Winter brings snow, ice and fast-shifting visibility; only experienced walkers should attempt it then, and with microspikes, a headtorch and a reliable navigation device.
Getting there and a local base
Raghtin More sits about 30 km north of Derry and 45 km from Letterkenny. You’ll need a car: the Mamore Gap road climbs from the Urris side of the peninsula, and no bus serves the trailhead. The nearest public transport is at Buncrana, with taxis from there. City of Derry Airport is the handiest airport for arrivals, while Donegal Airport has seasonal regional flights.
If a summit isn’t the plan, Glenevin Waterfall sits in the valley below with Raghtin More as its backdrop, reached on a gentle 1 km walk rather than a hill climb. Buncrana makes the natural recovery point afterwards, with cafés, pubs and guesthouses along its main street and harbourfront, plus a golf club if you want to stretch the day out. For a wider Donegal trip, Inishowen’s central position makes the mountain an easy staging post before the coastal drives or a run south to the Bluestack Mountains.
Maps come from the Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series (Sheets 2 and 3), and digital walkers often use PeakVisor for a 3D terrain preview. Start from Mamore Gap on a clear morning: the height is already half-won at the car, and the reward is Lough Swilly laid out below you all the way to Malin Head.