Walk · Co. Donegal
Muckish is a 667 m flat-topped mountain in the Derryveagh range, known for its quartz mining history and a Bronze Age court tomb marked by a summit cairn.
Locals call it Muckish. In Irish, it is an Mhucais, which translates to "the pig’s back." The name fits. The peak is distinctive because of its flat top, sitting in the Derryveagh Mountains of County Donegal. It stands at 667.1 metres. That makes it the third-highest peak in the Derryveagh range. It is also the 163rd highest mountain in Ireland.
Among the chain known as the Seven Sisters, Muckish is the most northern and the second highest. The full list includes Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, Mackoght and Errigal. From a distance, the summit looks cut off. That flat profile is the giveaway. The walk to the top is as good as the view from it.
The northern side holds the mountain’s other history. High-grade quartz sand was mined on the flanks. You can still see the quarry workings on the north face. The sand was exported for making optical glass. The “Miner’s Path” climbs to the summit up this side. It follows part of the route the quarry workers used.
The easier route starts at Muckish Gap on the southern side. The path there is gentler. The walk is shorter. Either way, the summit plateau is the reward. A large cairn stands on top. It is visible from sea level. The cairn marks a Bronze Age court tomb.
This is open ground. The weather on the top can be a long way from the weather in the village below. On a good day, it is an easy walk. On a bad day, it is a serious one. The difference is the mountain itself. A large metal cross was placed on the summit in 2000. It replaced an earlier one. The cairn and the cross make the top a place Donegal has marked for a very long time.
Allow three to four hours for the walk from either side. Include time on the plateau. The base villages are on the Derryveagh side of the county. Pair it with the national park for a full day.
Where to stay
Stay in Gweedore or at the park and the mountain is a morning, not an expedition.
See current availability for your dates. Availability and prices come from the accommodation provider, not from us.
Slieve League in southwest Donegal drops roughly 600 metres into the Atlantic, making it one of Europe's highest sea cliffs. The full scale is best experienced from the foot, reached via a two-hour walk from the Meenaleck car park.
Ardara is a small south-west Donegal town on the N56, named by The Irish Times in 2012 as the best village in which to live in Ireland. It serves as a practical base for the Bluestack Mountains and the west coast.
Buncrana is Donegal’s second-largest town, sitting on the Inishowen shore of Lough Swilly. It features the historic O’Doherty’s Keep and a rich textile heritage, serving as a practical base for exploring the peninsula.
Bundoran, County Donegal’s most southerly town, is a historic seaside resort named after the Doran River. It is a National Geographic top 20 surf town and the site where Mícheál Ó Cléirigh helped compile the Annals of the Four Masters.