MOUNTAINS
OF IRELAND
CARRANTUOHI is
the highest mountain in Ireland. It is part of Macgillicuddy's
Reeks, a rugged twelve-mile ridge which stretches
along thesouthwest corner of the island, not
far from the
Atlantic shore.
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CARLOW MOUNTAIN: Rising
like a wall of granitebetween the counties of Carlow and Wexford,
Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs Mountains offer a variety
of fine upland walks. Mount
Leinster is the highest, but also the most accessiblemountain
in the range, with a road all the way to its summit This
has not been overlooked by hang-glidersand paragliders, and
the sky
may be filled with a variety of colourful craftswooping and
soaring in dramatic aerobatics.Walkers will find a better way
toclimb Mount
Leinster is from a remote valley at Ballycrystal, where a finecircuit
can be enjoyed away f rom the roads. Another
route can be structured from the Sculloge Gap and Mount LeinsterLodge,
with a possible extension over Slievebawn. Views
from the summit are truly extensive, embracing the wholeSouth
East of Ireland, taking in much of the coast and all other
mountainranges.The
Blackstairs Mountains can be tackled from either side, and
they runin a continuous long ridge. BlackstairsMountain
itself can be climbed from the Sculloge Gap and by continuing
over thetop it is possible to inspect Caher`s Roe`s Den, where
a notorious
outlaw oncelay low. While
most of the highBlackstairs are composed of rugged heathery
slopes, there is also extensive forest cover on the eastern
slopes, where
firm forest tracks offer easyaccess.The most challenging walk
in this mountain range involves traversing theentire range
from Mount Leinster, all the way along the Blackstairs crest,
todescend finally
to St. Mullins beside the River Barrow.
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KERRY MOUNTAINS:With eighty
of the mountains in the southwest of Ireland over 2000 feet highthere
is an
abundance of superb mountain walking in this part of the country.Both
the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas offer facilities along with the
opportunityto explore their mountain ranges. A suggested three
day walk on the IveraghPeninsula
will take you up the craggy, seldom frequented Knocknagantee. This
isfollowed by a crossing over Mullaghanattin and the MacGillycuddy
Reeks, thelatter includes Irelands highest mountain, Carrauntuohill.
The walk moves on toCloghane and Mount Brandon, where there is
a string of "paternosterlakes" and
fine Atlantic views
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MAYO MOUNTAINS: This170km
route takes the walker from the fjord of Killary harbour at Leenaun
onthe County
Galway border, to the base of the Ox Mountains on the County Sligoborder.
The variety is tremendous, and the walker will pass through some of
themost beautifu l scenery of County Mayo - across rugged mountains,
through leafylaneways, by forest track and stream, through wild and
desolate bogs.Routedetails, Leenaun, Sheefry Bridge, Westport, Newport,
Sheskin, Ballycastle,Killala, Ballina.Total distance 177km / 110 milesLongest
Stage is from Newportto Ballycastle - 67km / 41 miles,Higest point
is above Sheefry Bridge - 400m /1310ft, with the best maps being” The
Western Way” and Ordnance survey mapsNumber 23, 24, 30, 37, 38 .
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TIPPERARY MOUNTAINS:Knockmealdownmountain, In
many views, the Knockmealdown Mountains appear as a series ofrounded,
heathery summits separated by deep gaps. Some
of the gaps are crossed by motor roads offering easy accessto a range
of finehill walks. Themountains
are also crossed by three major waymarked ways, so that a variety ofwalking
opportunities
can be enjoyed.Hill walkers can climb the KnockmealdownMountains from
Newcastle and Clogheen on the northern side, or from Lismore and Cappoquin
on the southern side. Any
ofthese bases give good access to the higher parts of the range Ground
conditions are oftendry andheathery, while forest tracks and narrow
roads can be used to make
easyapproaches. The East Munster
Way passes through the forests on the northern side of the range, while
St. Declan`s Waycrosses a broad gap in the middle.One of the features
of the higher Knockmealdown summits is a prominent linear ditch. This
marks the boundary between the counties of Waterford andTipperary,
rising and falling over a series of rounded tops and broad gaps,offering
a useful navigational aid throughout. Views
embrace everything from the coast to neighbouring mountaingroups.Further
westwards, the Knockmealdown Mountains dwindle in height, butstill
offer a fine variety of easy walks over gentler hills Approaches can
be made from the littlevillage of Ballyporeen or the wonderfully quiet
Araglin
Valley The Araglin Valley also features a goodstretch of
the waymarked BlackwaterWay, which can be followed to or from the Gap
above Clogheen, where is linkswith the East Munster Way. Rising as
a huge, heathery dome amid gentle, greencountryside, Slievenamon`s
profile naturally attracts the eye
SLIEVENAMON
MOUNTAINS: This
is an easy mountain, and it could even be described as a beginner`smountain,
with a broad and clear track leading all the way to the summitcairn. On
fine days there are extensiveviews, taking in all the best walking
areas in the South East of Ireland Nearby mountain groups look
particularly appealing.Slievenamon is a mountain of history and mystery;
of lore andlegends. Its
name means the “Mountainof the Women”, and the story is told how all
the
fairest women
raced to the top to claim the hand of the warrior Fionn Mac Cumhail. Fionn
secretly fancied Grainne, the daughter of the High King ofIreland,so
he advised her how to win the race. Although it looks like asolitary
height, Slievenamon is surrounded by a series of lower heathery humps. Some
of these, like the mainsummit, are crowned by ancient burial cairns. The
highest cairn is said to mark the entrance to the mysterious Celticunderworld. A
more modern and prominentaddition to the hill is the white landmark
of Killusty Cross, erected in theHoly Year of 1950.The easiest route
to the top of Slievenamon is clearlysignposted from Kilcash, while
another path leading from Killusty to KillustyCross can be extended
towards the summit. For more
Dedicated hillwalkers, there is a complete circular walk aroundthe
hill which is being promoted in the locality, as well as an annual
hillrace and occasional guided walks.
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WATERFORD MOUNTAINS The ComeraghMountains are a remarkably varied
range, stretching from the coast near Dungarvan inland as far as Clonmel. TheNire
Valley reaches into the heart of the range, not only offering good
access,but also featuring an annual walking festival, introducing hundreds
of walkersto the joys and challenge of walking in these mountains.The
central part of theComeragh Mountains features a broad and boggy plateau,
while the fringefeatures phenomenally rocky coums filled with a wonderful
assortment of littleloughs. Here
you will find therock-walled Coumshingaun and Coum Iarthair, as well
as Crotty`s Lough, which was named after an outlaw who lay low in these
remote fastnesses Other deep hollows include Coumstilloge,Coumalocha,
Coumfea and Coumtay. Searching
for them all can make for some quite entertaining expklorations.The
fine rocky
peak of Knockanaffrin rises between the NireValley and Clonmel, along
with a range of gentler, less often walkedhills. The
Munster Way runs nearby, crossingthe hills between Clonmel and Newcastle. Heading
southwards from the Nire Valley, towards Dungarvan,
there aresome find rounded hills such as Seefin and Crohaun, while
a network of foresttracks offer easier walking.The Comeragh Mountains
Walking Festival is heldevery October and is centred on the Nire
Valley. Experienced local guides
offer leadership and plenty ofbackground knowledge about the area.A
range of routes include tough mountainwalks, gentler valley walks and
a number of short and easy walks suitable forbeginners. Tough
walkers often try tocomplete the full traverse of the range between Clonmel
and Dungarvan.
KNOCKMEALDOWN MOUNTAINS:
In many views, the Knockmealdown Mountains appear as a series ofrounded,
heathery summits separated by deep gaps.Some of the gaps are crossedby
motor roads offering easy access to a range of fine hill walks The
mountains are also crossed by threemajor waymarked ways, so that
a variety of walking opportunities can beenjoyed. Hill walkers
can climb the Knockmealdown Mountains from Newcastle and Clogheen
on the northern side, or from Lismore and Cappoquin on the southernside. Any
of these bases give good access to the higher parts of the range. Ground
conditions are often dry and heathery, while forest tracks andnarrow
roads can be used to make easy approaches. The
East Munster Way passes through the forests on the northernside of
the range, while St. Declan`s Way crosses a broad gap in the middle.Oneof
the features of the higher Knockmealdown summits is a prominent
linearditch. This
marks the boundary between the counties of Waterford and Tipperary,
rising and falling over a series ofrounded tops and broad gaps,
offering a useful navigational aid throughout Views embrace everything
from the coast toneighbouring mountain groups.Further westwards,
the Knockmealdown Mountainsdwindle in height, but still offer a
fine variety of easy walks over gentlerhills. Approaches
can be made from thelittle village of Ballyporeen or the wonderfully
quiet Araglin Valley The Araglin Valley also features a goodstretch
of the waymarked Blackwater Way, which can be followed to or from theGap
above Clogheen, where is links with the East Munster Way