A ring of 64 massive stones, possibly the remains of a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, crowns Tops Hill south of Raphoe with panoramic views over the Donegal countryside. It is free to visit, open year-round, and the short uphill walk through a tree-lined boreen is part of the experience.
From the small car park at the foot of the hill, a gravelly path climbs roughly 320-350m (about a 10-minute walk) between farm fields, under trees and past gorse bushes. It can be muddy and steep in places, so wear boots or sturdy shoes.
Beltany's 64 surviving stones (of an original 80+) form a circle about 45m across, one of Ireland's largest. Inside is a raised, hummocky mound of earth and stones — the suspected remains of a ruined burial cairn — with many stones leaning dramatically outward.
A triangular slab on the east-northeast side carries at least 43 cupmarks facing into the circle, and aligns with the tallest pillar and the Bealtaine (May Day) sunrise. A 2m-tall outlier stone stands about 21m southeast of the ring.
From the 170m summit the whole site opens out over rolling Donegal farmland, with views toward Croaghan Hill and the Kilmonaster passage-tomb cemetery. An information board stands at the entrance to the field.
Around May 1 the rising sun aligns with the cup-marked stone over Tullyrap hill, echoing the fire-festival name Bealtaine from which 'Beltany' likely derives. Dawn visits are also the quietest.
About 35m southwest of the circle lie the faint remains of a circular earthen enclosure marked 'Old Graveyard' on early maps — its true origin is still a mystery. Note that the surrounding fields are active farmland with grazing sheep.
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