Climbing Slieve League
There are two routes up to the ridge of Slieve League ( sliabh leic , "grey mountain", or leica , "flagstone mountain"). Both routes up are walkable and very enjoyable, though it's a great deal easier to drive . A less-used back route, known as "One Man's Path", follows the signpost pointing to the mountain just before Teelin and looks up continually to the ridge, while the frontal approach follows the signs out of Teelin to BUNGLASS ( bunglas , "end of the cliff"), swinging you spectacularly round sharp bends and up incredibly steep inclines to one of the most thrilling cliff scenes in the world, the Amharc Mor , from which the views are staggering. Bunglass turns out to be exactly what it says, the end of the grass, perched way above a sheer drop. These claim to be the highest marine cliffs in Europe , and standing here that seems all too likely. The sea moves so far below that the waves appear silent, and the near-2000ft face glows with mineral deposits in tones of amber, white and red. They say that on a clear day it is possible to see one-third of the whole of Ireland from the summit. A sightseeing tour of the cliffs from the waters below is organized from Teelin, weather permitting, by Smith Campbell (tel 073/39079). If you want to make a full day of it, you can follow One Man's Path, which leads on to Old Man's Path (so named simply because it's a few inches wider), over the crest of the mountain and down the heather-tufted western slope. The paths are accurately named: in places they are only a few feet wide, and in wet or windy weather they can be extremely hazardous . On a fine day, though, it's a wonderful - if terrifying - traverse. Then make your way across towards the verdant headland village of MALINBEG , where there's a sublime crescent-shaped golden strand enclosed by a tight rocky inlet. Here, Malinmore Adventure Centre (tel 073/30123) organizes diving - from GBP75/?94.93 for three dives over two days - and provides other activities, including canoeing and hill-walking. Malinbeg itself is a village of white bungalows, with the land around ordered into long narrow strips. On the cliff edge a ruined Martello tower faces Rathlin O'Birne Island , three miles offshore, a place with many folklore associations. There are occasional boats across, but nothing to see beyond some early Christian stone relics and a ruined coastguard station. Beyond Malinbeg it's relatively easy to extend your walk through MALINMORE - where the large Glencolmcille Hotel (tel 073/3003; GBP55-70/?69.84-88.88) serves food - and on to Glencolmcille. The whole distance from Teelin can be comfortably completed in six hours.
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