Ever since I first got interested in Summits On the Air, one mountain in the west of Ireland has been calling me. In the Nephin range in Co. Mayo lies Slieve Carr. At 721m it is not even in the top 40 highest mountains in Ireland, but as it is often referred to as ‘the most remote mountain in Ireland’ it had remained un activated.
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Corraun Hill SOTA Activation
While in Mayo last week I decided I’d take a few hours to try a SOTA activation. There are plenty of summits to choose from, 8 around Achill and another 25 between the Nephin range and Ceide Fields. Robert Lloyd Praeger in 1937 wrote that “the Nephinbeg range of mountains is I think the very loneliest place in this country” and so it’s no surprise that many of the SOTA summits here remain unactivated. Slieve Carr, the highest mountain in the Nephin range, is about 14km from the nearest road and is surrounded by bog. An activation would probably require an overnight camp, but you would be camping in Irelands first Dark Sky Park so the view of the un-light-polluted cosmos alone would be worth it. All that though is part of the allure of these mountains. If you do feel the call of wild Mayo and want some help or perhaps a guide, get in touch with the nice folks at www.terrafirmaireland.com.
Continue reading Corraun Hill SOTA Activation