From Sperrin village up Sawel: route map, distance and time

Climb north from the Glenelly valley over grass and bog, using the fence line as a guide to the summit trig pillar.

From Sperrin village at a glance

From Sperrin village map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

How long From Sperrin village takes

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

• Today: sunrise 08:03, sunset 18:23. Start by 13:53 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
• Tomorrow: sunrise 08:05, sunset 18:20. Start by 13:50 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Sawel summit weather for this route

• Good Today Sunday 18 October

  Clear sky, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 14 mph gusting 24 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 08:03, sunset 18:23.

• Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

  Overcast, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 33 mph gusting 41 mph, 12% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 08:05, sunset 18:20.

Best day of the next seven for From Sperrin village: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 24 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Sawel forecast

What to take today

• An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -3°C on top.
• A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
• Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
• A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Sawel

Sawel is the highest of the Sperrin Mountains at 678 m, on the border of County Tyrone and County Londonderry, above the Glenelly valley. More about Sawel, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Hewitt, Marilyn, Arderin, Vandeleur-Lynam, historic county top, county top.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

• Dart Mountain (619 m), 1.8 km south-west

Challenges that include Sawel

• Hewitts · 523

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location, what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

From Sperrin village: questions and answers

How far is From Sperrin village?

From Sperrin village is 6.7 km one way to the summit of Sawel, with 505 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.4 km.

How long does From Sperrin village take?

About 2h 10m to the summit of Sawel and 3h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 20m for the round trip.

Where do you park for From Sperrin village?

From Sperrin village starts from Sperrin village, Glenelly valley.

Is From Sperrin village suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start From Sperrin village today?

By 13:53 at the latest. Sunset on Sawel today is 18:23, From Sperrin village takes about 3h 30m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for From Sperrin village?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).