Picture from padodes : View SE to Blackstairs
Picture: View SE to Blackstairs
by padodes 21 Apr 2008
At first sight, Ballycurragh seems no more promising that its forest-infested neighbours, Ballyteige and Carrickshane, but I found it a lot better than its reputation. T075 823 (Point A) (unmarked on the OSI 1:50,000, but detectable on the Healy map), head upwards until you reach T073 820 (Point B) . Here the main forest track turns sharply right, into the forest interior, but to the left a relatively new track now goes straight to the top of the hill between the edge of the forest on the right and fenced pastureland on the left. I would be inclined to place the summit – a rather pretentious word here – just to the right of where the track meets a wall of forest at the top, but a small mound of stones about a hundred yards to the left of this, at T0567 8229 (Point C) , obviously enjoys greater favour (see photo). T074 843 (Point D) (limited parking by the roadside) or higher up at T070 836 (Point E) (better parking) where the route enters the forest. The zigzagging forest trails on the OSI map are still accurate and allow one to plot the best course to the top without difficulty. I saved a GPS track of my walk and found, when later seen on the computer against the calibrated background of the scanned OSI map, that it followed the forest trails perfectly until it reached T063 828 (Point F) , approaching the top. Then, however, the track looped more widely around to the southwest. The forest trail now continues on beyond what is indicated on the OSI and soon begins to descend, so at some point there is nothing for it but to brave a prickly climb through the final few hundred metres of forest to the left. I branched off myself at T055 824 (Point G) .
Point A: T075 823
Point B: T073 820
Point C: T0567 8229
Point D: T074 843
Point E: T070 836
Point F: T063 828
Point G: T055 824
(Comment Rating 4.50)
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Picture from simon3
by simon3 1 Apr 2003
I think I would recommend Ballycurragh Hill only to the most dedicated summit bagger. For a start as of 2003 much of the summit is covered by adolescent (very prickly) Sitka spruce. The summit itself is marked as being within these trees, though whether it is really there is hard to determine. As you can see from the 1:50k map the summit area is only partly unforested giving you at most a 90 degree view. None of the main southern Wicklow mountains are visible. (Comment Rating 4.40)
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Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/381/comment/417/
Picture from csd
by csd 2 Nov 2003
We managed to gain the summit by following the Wicklow Way as far as the ride at 054 835 (Point H) , where we turned south and followed it most of the way to the summit. It gets very wet underfoot, and there is a small amount of pushing through dense forestry. Despite Simon's rather negative comments, I think the view from the summit is worth the bother. The fact that none of the major south Wicklow mountains is visible even adds to the attraction, making this mountain somewhat unique. The view extends from Croghanmoira and the Irish Sea in the east (where the new wind farm is visible) over to the Blackstairs and Mt Leinster. The picture shows the summit cairn and the view over to Croghanmoira and Ballinacor.(Comment Rating 4.00)
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Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/381/comment/732/
by mneary34 10 Oct 2004
We started at the Wicklow Way entrance to the forest T 070 836. After taking the first turn left on forest tracks we proceeded for 330 metres from the turn and ascended through a fire break to meet the next forest track up on the 340 contour. From there we followed forest tracks to the end point as shown on sheet 62 close to the summit at T 057 824 (Point I) . This track actually continues further than the point shown on the map and it divides into a higher and lower option. Taking the higher and left of the two options we walked for 150 metres before heading left and directly uphill to the summit cairn as shown in Simon3's photo. I agree that the point shown on Sheet 62 as being the summit appears to be slightly lower that the area where the cairn is located. Thankfully our route did not require any difficult negotiation of Sitka and there are good views south from the summit area.
(Comment Rating 3.33)
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Picture from csd
by csd 2 Nov 2003
Slieve Maan, Carrickshane, and Croghanmoira, viewed from the NE shoulders of Ballycurragh Hill.(Comment Rating 3.00)
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Picture from colin Murphy : Swarming with deer...
Picture: Swarming with deer...
by colin Murphy 13 Jul 2009
The most interesting thing about Ballycurragh was the fact that I spotted no less than 5 separate deer (see photo). Otherwise this was a relatively easy walk up a not terribly interesting mountain. Started where the Wicklow way leaves the road at T045 825 (Point J) and zig-zagged up the forest track to point T048 819 (Point K) . Although not marked on the OS map, the track continues SE at this point then swings NE to take you directly to the top. One hour and fifteen minutes had me back at the car.
Point J: T045 825
Point K: T048 819
(Comment Rating 3.00)
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(End of comment section for Ballycurragh Hill.)
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