Mullaghcarn

Mullaghcarn is a mountain in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, rising to 542 metres. It stands in the southwest Sperrins, near Gortin Glen Forest Park, and is the most southerly peak in the range. The summit is rocky and steep, with conifer woodland on its western slopes. Acid grassland covers much of the mountain, while heather thrives on the northern side. Peat is less common because the eastern slopes were drained long ago. Red grouse can be seen on the heathland around the peak. During the Second World War the mountain was used as a firing range by police and American soldiers stationed nearby. The site still shows traces of these military activities. The name comes from the Irish Mullach Cairn, meaning ‘peak of the cairns’, and small stone piles mark the way to the top. The views stretch across Tyrone and into Donegal on clear days. It lies eight kilometres northeast of Omagh and five kilometres south of Gortin. Visitors follow paths through Gortin Glen Forest Park before climbing the open slopes. The rocky summit offers wide views over the Sperrins and surrounding countryside. Heather and grassland change colour with the seasons, from purple in summer to gold in autumn. Red grouse rise from the heath when disturbed, while ravens circle above the crags. The old firing ranges add a quiet reminder of the mountain’s wartime past.