This is the highest point in Co. Kilkenny. Brandonhill is also the name of a townland split between the parishes of Graiguenamanagh and The Rower and between the baronies of Gowran and Ida. There is also a townland named Brandondale in the parish of Graiguenamanagh.
Brandon Hill is the second highest mountain in the South Midlands area and the 425th highest in Ireland. Brandon Hill is the most easterly summit in the South Midlands area. Brandon Hill is the highest point in county Kilkenny. Our data has reached 100% of the goal for this summit. (Details)
Short Summary created by jackill 10 Jul 2010
Turn off the main road at S67766 42279(Point A), taking care when near this point as its easy to miss the turn off.
The forest entrance,S68218 41485(Point B), can be locked so you may need to park(space for 2 cars) and walk. At S68848 40961(Point C) cross a stile to your right and follow a rough track next to a stone wall uphill.At S69243 40632(Point D) turn right up the track to the summit.
The summit has a large rusting metal cross from 1984, a cairn, a hut and a pillar that locates and names features visible on the surrounding landscape.
by simon3 6 Dec 2003
One way of reaching the summit is as follows. Leave the Inistioge to Graiguenamanagh road near Sackinstown (S 677 423(Point E)) Go SE along an unsurfaced road into the forest (where the road becomes surfaced) to a point near 685 412(Point F). Turn left onto the South Leinster Way. By following various tracks, mostly shown on the OS, arrive at S698 412(Point G), which is a substantial vehicle park at around 332m. (This position was taken by GPS, the tracks on the OS may not be totally accurately shown.) Beyond this, the road deteriorates. From the NE corner of this car park there is a well used track which will lead you to the summit along a ride, a track and over heather. You can actually drive to the car park if you wish to, though beware of bumps and ridges in the road.
Various patches of town lighting are visible in this night view from the summit hinting at the very large area, including coastline, that can be seen. The main patch of light shown here, looking approximately SE, is probably New Ross.
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Picture: Someones put up a cross here, Ted! Expand pics.
by murphysw 24 Sep 2005
I tried to follow Simon's instructions, and I found that road after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing and a bit of process of elimination. I dont think I followed them precisely because after driving up the road I went right at the first fork I came to. This ended in a locked gate and a stile. I parked up and went on my way. Through the gate this track continues. After about 100m it forks, and I took the left fork, which is steeply uphill and unusable by vehicles. After about another 100m this track swings to the right so went straight on over open ground to the top of the ridge in the vicinity of point 417m on the OS map. I soon picked up the track to the summit, the highest point in the county where hurlers start training in the womb! I climbed this the same day I did Mount Leinster and the summit here was mist shrouded as well. There is a large cross here, erected by the local parishioners, a massive cairn, and a box yoke thingy which Simon believes to be the remains of a TV retransmitter. Today it is absolutely filthy and full of rubbish. This is a grand little mountain with a decent variety of climbing conditions and I believe the views to be great on a clear day. Pity I couldn't see them! (Comment Rating 4.60)
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Picture: Summit, trig pillar and blockhouse. Expand pics.
by simon3 24 Sep 2005
According to PW Joyce [Irish Local Names Explained] Brandon Hill is named after St Brendan the Navigator. It is an isolated peak around 12k SE of the Blackstairs. Like the Blackstairs it is mainly made of granite. Like other isolated peaks, the views from Brandon hill are well known for quality, so good in fact that someone has put a direction indicator near the summit. To the NE are the Coppanagh Hills (365m) reputedly interesting for a short walk, though from the map it would appear that the trig pillar on Coppanagh is now in a wood.
The photo shows a night view of the cairn on the summit with its trig pillar, taken from near the direction indicator. The night was relatively clear and on the original picture there are various astronomical objects clearly visible. The square outline on the left is a concrete block house. Paul Clements [The Height of Nonsense] suggests sort of eponymously that "It's the Temple of Zodiac .. It's where you meet old friends before you come to the World's End down there at Nova Villa Pontis" (This was part of the name of a bridge in Newross built in the 12th century. No, no, I don't understand the allusion either.)
A more prosaic suggestion is that the 13m cross on the summit had lights which in turn needed power, a generator and housing. (Comment Rating 4.50)
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Picture: The view towards Mt Leinster and Blackstairs Mtn, from Brandon Hill Expand pics.
by csd 9 Jul 2006
I elected to tackle Brandon Hill from the south. Leaving the R705, I turned right onto the laneway at S 718 379(Point H), a location marked on sheet 68 as Ballinvary Irish. It's quite easy to miss this, so keep a look out for a small lane that almost doubles back on itself as you turn off the main road. Follow this track (not recommended for low-slung vehicles!) to the forest gate at S 710 379(Point I), where there's space for one or two cars to park. I then followed the forest tracks (accurately shown on sheet 68) to approach the summit from the south. You pick up some markers labelled "BW" (Brandon Way?) as you make your way through the forest; these will accompany you all the way to the summit. Views from the top are excellent; although not the highest of peaks, its relatively isolated position commands a stunning panorama.
by simon3 20 Sep 2004
This visualisation looks broadly north east and shows how Brandon Hill is a good place to see the whole of the ridge of the Blackstairs some 10 km away. Data from NASA and dated 2000. (Comment Rating 4.00)
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exaisle7 hours ago. I thought this was a short but punishing climb although I'm not as fit as I should be.
There is just one short respite but as soon as one leaves the road, it's tough from the word go....well, ...
exaisle7 hours ago. If the hangover is bad, you might consider the spin up Mount Gabriel. There is an access road about a mile or so outside Schull...it's tarmac all the way up and the views are excellent.
Of cou...
exaisle7 hours ago. I'll be honest, it was 25degrees and the sun was beating down. Tipp and Waterford were on the field and I could hear the clash of the ash over the car radio.
So I said feckit, and drove up.
...
Collaborative entry Last edit by: jackill14 hours ago. Park on the roadside at S112 083 (Point A) on the Mellary to Newcastle road just after you cross the border to Tipperary and an abandoned farmhouse. There is room here for 5-6 cars.
You will noti...
Collaborative entry Last edit by: jackill14 hours ago. Park on the roadside at S112 083 on the Mellary to Newcastle road just after you cross the border to Tipperary and an abandoned farmhouse. There is room here for 5-6 cars.
You will notice there a...
kernowclimber2 days ago. A steep climb up a series of steps (ouch) from the Hare's Gap to the summit of Slievenaglogh rewards the climber with incredible views over Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Meelmore and Ben Crom Reservoir....
gouganebarraa day ago. Conor74, I'd suggest that you could climb Shehy Mor (and combine it with Djouce and Doughill mountains for a longer walk). The best access for climbing Shehy Mor is from the unclassified road whic...
grzywaczmarcin2 days ago. Descending from Scarr and Kanturk I met Ronnie Petrie memorial. I tried to find some information about him in the network but all I found is that he was involved in process of opening lands around...
jackill2 days ago. The Sugarloaf with its whitewashed pillar stands sentry over Bantry bay.
The bay itself has seen the devils own share of history and tragedy.
The town of Bantry was the place where an attempt t...
three5four02 days ago. Climbed Little Sugar Loaf after the ascent of Great Sugar Loaf, earlier that morning. Found the spirals cut into the rock on the summit, but not those on the north top mentioned by mcrtchly. New o...
Conor74a day ago. Heading to a stag this weekend, so will be down in West Cork and probably needing a hangover cure on Sunday - could even go early enough Saturday too if it meant bagging a good few summits in any ...