I9IO. Praeger. — Field Club Conference^ Rosapenna. 159 



the narrow-gauge line, and were soon in Letterkenny. Here 

 a wait of an hour and a half occurred, which was employed in 

 exploring the town. Joined here by two more members, the 

 party, now at its full strength of 47, again took train, and 

 reached Creeslough at 213. The last section of the journey was 

 of high interest and great beauty. First the long climb along 

 the northern side of the fine valley of the Swilly, then peeps 

 of the high mountains to the north-west ; later the passage of 

 the remarkable gap of Barnesbeg, followed by the crossing of 

 the great Gweebarra rift, closing in the distance to the deep 

 cut of Glenveagh. At Creeslough a dozen cars were in wait- 

 ing, with carts for the luggage, and soon all were driving to 

 Doe Castle, the first stopping-place, beautifully situated on a 

 wooded rock}^ point projecting into Sheep Haven. The fine 

 keep and bawn, though of 15th century or earlier date, are in 

 good preservation and were inhabited till recentl}^ Exploration 

 of the castle was followed by tea on the lawn, and an examina- 

 tion of the old churchyard adjoining, where attention was 

 divided between several interesting monuments and the 

 operations of the conchologists. Leaving at 5.15, Rosapenna 

 was reached in good time for dinner. In the evening many 

 members explored an interesting sea-cave close by, now cut 

 off from the sea b}^ a heavy fall of rock, but clearly connected 

 still during storms through its rock}^ floor. 



Saturday, July 9. 



At 9.30, mounted on cars, the party left to explore theRosguill 

 peninsula, on the sandy neck of which Rosapenna Hotel is 

 built. The road, hilly and picturesque, runs along the eastern 

 slope of the hills, with the waters of Mulroy Bay below. 

 Fanny's Ba^- was passed, the lying-up place of the herring- 

 fleet which has its head-quarters at Downings Bay, situated on 

 Sheep Haven close to Rosapenna. Leaving the rocky slope of 

 Ganiamore behind, a breakneck descent led to the level 

 grass-grown sands of Tranarossan, stretching across from sea 

 to sea, with the bare side of Crocknasleigh, or Melmore 

 Mountain, half schist, half granite, rising: abruptly from the flat 

 (Plate 6). Bej^ond this, at Gortnalughoge Bay, the party camped 

 for the da}'. The sun shone gloriously, and, abandoning coats 

 and wraps, a start w^as made across the peninsula for the 

 Murder Hole. The route lay across a heathery shoulder and 



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