Lough Gartan loop

After a superb start to our Ulster holiday exploring the Causeway coast, Derry and Inishowen, we had a few nights in Church Hill on the edge of the beautiful Glenveagh national park. This was typical Donegal, wild and wet, and the weather conformed to the stereotype throughout our stay. After last month's slump in form, I have been feeling a little better and am very conscious I need to get some longer road runs in before London in October. This was a superb early morning outing from our accommodation. I headed through the little valley of the upper Leannan to gain the bottom of Lough Gartan at the bridge over the outflow. Then comes a wonderful lonely lane round the northwest of the lake, right up onto the wild hillside below An Liathan Mor. The cloud base was low, the drizzle more or less continuous, so it felt like running in the mountains, particularly as the tarmac road deteriorated to a grassy track towards the far end of the lough. The path continues along the Bulowba river on the edge of the Gaeltacht. Just as I was getting a bit concerned about finding the bridge in this remote area, it appeared, and I crossed it to gain the more substantial R254 which led along the southern fringe of the lake back to Church Hill. I added a few extra bits to take the run to half marathon length with 350m of climbing. As such, I was quite pleased to take 1.36 or so, feeling relaxed but good throughout.