Looking north up the Inishowen peninsula, with fantastic views of both Lough Swilly to the left and Lough Foyle to the right.
Image credit: ryaner
Images
Restored fort interior.
Image credit: ryaner
The well to the south of the monument with a kerb-like curve of stones protruding from the turf.
Image credit: ryaner
Plenty of people here today.
Image credit: ryaner
Inch Island in Lough Swilly at the centre of the shot – the fort is now fully accessible.
Image credit: ryaner
From just west of south towards the fort on Greenan Mountain.
Image credit: ryaner
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Fort, and hilltop with cairn in the distance
Image credit: ryaner
Note the tumulus. It can be seen for real in Bogman’s picture
Image credit: OPW
Another very accessible site with ample parking and again ill mention the great views.
Image credit: Charles Coughlan
Image credit: Charles Coughlan
Image credit: Charles Coughlan
Image credit: tomatoman
Image credit: tomatoman
The Mam Cymru contemplates these excellent ramparts... and provides some much needed scale....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Enigmatic........
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looks like access has been improved to the site
Image credit: Bawn79
Image credit: Bawn79
Looking out the gate to the east
Image credit: Bawn79
Entrance on the right.
Wall walk (and view)
Articles
“Adam’s stunning picture shows a shaft of life entering one side of the historic fort, before creating a perfect line to the other side.”
From The Donegal Daily
The second picture of the Grainan shows the single entry door and a smaller portal low on the wall. This portal opens into a small passage that runs round the inner wall to a wall forming one of the walls of the doors passage. The portal is about 2 foot high but opens up to about 3-4 foot inside getting gradually larger until it reaches the inside of the doorway passage.
This doorway passage is about 8-10 foot (I think, didn’t measure) long as it is the full thickness of the wall. If you go into the small passage (bring a torch, its pitch dark) and follow the curve round you will find a little light at the end where gaps in the rocks in the wall at the end let light in from from the main passage. Some gaps are big enough to stick a hand out. From the main passage looking at the wall you would have difficulty finding this hole.
There is a similar portal and passage curving round on the right hand side of the fort (looking out through the door) but the end wall is solid. This entrance is smaller.
Inside both of the passages its damp and cool with a loose rock floor. The roof is uneven so bring a torch or you’ll skull yerself! Don’t think its encouraged to crawl round these passages as they would not be considered safe.
Not sure what these passages are for as they must be part of the rebuild from the 1800s. There appears to be one opposite the main door but having seen the old rebuild plans which show both the above passages I think it may just be missing stones or a drain.
The fort itself (while rebuilt) is one of the most impressive in Ireland and commands an unrivaled view over loughs Foyle and Swilly. Just down from it is a spring (called a holy well, but most springs in Ireland are). An amazing place to be on a sunny day!
Impressive circular stone fort – a bit less so when you realise it was largely destroyed in 1101 and then significantly restored in 1870. Worth it for the view.
Interior space – about 23m diameter.
Sites within 20km of Grianan of Ailech
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Carnaghan
photo 11ondemand_video 1 -
Eskaheen
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Gortmonly
photo 2description 1 -
Creevery Upper
photo 4 -
Meenkeeragh standing stone
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Meenkeeragh
photo 5description 1 -
Ardmore
photo 10description 1 -
Binn
photo 8 -
Drumhallagh Upper
photo 4ondemand_video 1forum 1 -
Pluck
photo 1 -
Ervey
photo 7 -
Tromaty
photo 3 -
Ballygroll Prehistoric Complex
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Gortnavern
photo 12ondemand_video 1description 2 -
Killynaght
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Portleen
photo 3description 2 -
Carrowmore or Glentogher (Dg. 25)
photo 10 -
Cregg
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Carrowmore or Glentogher
photo 2 -
Carrowmore or Glentogher (Dg. 24)
photo 4