Errigal mountain path washed away by rain
22 أيار 2024 19:16
People are being asked not to climb the highest mountain in County Donegal after heavy rain washed away parts of a €630,000 (£536,500) pathway.
Errigal is the highest of seven peaks in Donegal's Derryveagh mountains, known as the Seven Sisters.
It is estimated that more than 40,000 people climb Errigal every year.
Work on the 3km pathway started in April 2022 and was completed last October.
The new path was installed to help hikers avoid eroded peat bogs at the bottom of the summit.
Since the path was opened to the public, Errigal has seen a rise in the number of visitors looking to scale its peak, which stands at 751m (2,464 ft).
However, heavy rain in recent days has displaced many parts of the pathway by shifting large stones which must now be refitted and replaced.
It is not know how long the work will take.
Cairde na hEaragaile [Friends Of Errigal], which comprises a number of bodies with an interest in protecting the mountainous area, has encouraged hikers to avoid the area.
"Unfortunately, the path was very badly damaged during the downpour on Monday and it has subsequently caused a nearby river along the path to burst its banks due to the torrent of water," project officer Josephine Kelly said.
"The sheer force of the moving water has shifted rocks from the pathway and has exposed the uneven ground underneath.
"We respectfully ask people to not climb the mountain at this time due to the condition of the pathway because other areas at the bottom are simply not good underfoot and there is a lot of loose stone."
Errigal is the highest of seven peaks in Donegal's Derryveagh mountains, known as the Seven Sisters.
It is estimated that more than 40,000 people climb Errigal every year.
Work on the 3km pathway started in April 2022 and was completed last October.
The new path was installed to help hikers avoid eroded peat bogs at the bottom of the summit.
Since the path was opened to the public, Errigal has seen a rise in the number of visitors looking to scale its peak, which stands at 751m (2,464 ft).
However, heavy rain in recent days has displaced many parts of the pathway by shifting large stones which must now be refitted and replaced.
It is not know how long the work will take.
Cairde na hEaragaile [Friends Of Errigal], which comprises a number of bodies with an interest in protecting the mountainous area, has encouraged hikers to avoid the area.
"Unfortunately, the path was very badly damaged during the downpour on Monday and it has subsequently caused a nearby river along the path to burst its banks due to the torrent of water," project officer Josephine Kelly said.
"The sheer force of the moving water has shifted rocks from the pathway and has exposed the uneven ground underneath.
"We respectfully ask people to not climb the mountain at this time due to the condition of the pathway because other areas at the bottom are simply not good underfoot and there is a lot of loose stone."