Picture from CaptainVertigo : Towards Le Coq across Spelga Reservoir from Slieve Muck
Picture: Towards Le Coq across Spelga Reservoir from Slieve Muck
by CaptainVertigo 3 May 2005
...."OF MOUNTAINS AND MEN"......There are some things in life that require intimacy, and others distance. I have learned to my cost that you cannot really photograph a mountain from its summit: it is about as informative as a picture of your own nether regions. But unless you have lived a while in its undulations and crevices, your attempts to describe its virtues and vices will be no more accurate than a Confession given on your behalf by your elderly Aunt. True knowledge, of men and mountains, comes from both intimacy and distance. On Sunday (1st May 05) the Zulu-esque party of "braves", of which I formed part, sped up Slievenamiskan and onto to Cock Mountain just in time to have a thick blanket of Northern Irish Mist pour down upon our four heads. We could hardly see one another , never mind the menagerie about us. So we didn't dwell on the Hen , the Pigeon or the Pig as others have done, admiring the siblings. No. We dwelt on the hallowed ground beneath us, and fumbled for the GPS...which had been left at home. Out came the compass and the struggle to hold the flapping map in the howling wind. This preceded a surreal funereal single file trek across a marsh toward the Pigeon (maybe we erred a little on the Dam side). The Zulu in us abated and we felt that humility that comes from wondering if you will ever see home again. I thought I had died and gone to Hades...well Wicklow at least. All that squelching and curves. Ugh!! But sure enough, the compass got us as far as Pigeon Rock and up ole Batt's Wall (the sheer INDUSTRY of these northerners-did they ever sleep!) to the top. As we slurped brunch the mist lifted and revealed the watering hole below, and all about the western Mournes lay sleeping, not pointy like the Zwinglian sharpies to the east, but gentle and welcoming. It was only when we crossed the road and ascended Muck that some brief moments of sun illuminated the great canvass and we saw where we had walked blindly --guided by one of the invisible forces that flows through our universe, our Home.(Comment Rating 4.17)
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by Bleck Cra 3 Aug 2004
And so chaps and chapesses, 'tis time for a story and sure 'tis the truth because I saw it meself. One day I was heading up Cock (all comments deleted): Cock is out of Hilltown neither of which has any real redeeming features other than the rhodedendron (phon) field at the hostel which is magical. Anyway it was one of these strange odd evenings when the crystal air is threatened by shadow clouds in the glens: see-forever minutes drifted into greyness and back out again. Ascending the shin of this damp lump I suddenly saw at the top of a gully a pale sleek quadruped - oh sleepy old day - with a brush tail - ho hum - and a dark mane - the binos were out and I was in the bog (invisible). A lion? No. Yes. A lion. Another look. Hell's bells a lion. Escape - pointless. Sure it's been a good life. And there it was, as clear as day, a lion. A lion eating grass. Eating grass. It's probably so hungry it's taken to eating grass. When it sees me, that's it! Then from its flank emerged a golden beast at height some 6 hands with blonde ringlets to its ankles: the most magnificent wild he-goat ever constructed. Ahh - when the lion lies down with the lamb - the game's up now. He watched me then gave his missus a nudge - his missus with the tail and mane - his missus who was moulting brown fur to her tail and to her neck. Ach a goat; sure a goat. Dangerous enough now. Hens, Cocks, Lions and Goats - Oh and an edjit of course.
(Comment Rating 4.00)
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Picture from simon3
by simon3 12 Dec 2004
The picture shows one of the fine tors on Hen mountain, the north-western outlier to Cock mountain. At only about 360m, it has the feel of somewhere much higher particularly on a misty day. The other summits of Hen are also worth visiting.J 233278 (Point A) . There are no guarantees about the safety of car-parks anywhere but there is a house directly overlooking this one.
(Comment Rating 4.00)
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by stephenfarley 13 Apr 2004
I suggest that anyone intending to climb Cock Mountain should climb Hen Mountain to the North West first, and use it as a springboard to Cock Mountain, it is uninspiring otherwise. Very steep from the North West, with some loose stony ground on the slope which can cause a problem for footing. The peak has two cairns. Great view back into County Armagh towards Slieve Gullion which can prove to be a stunning site in late evening. A good trek can begin with Hen Mountain, then cock Mountain, following on to Pigeon Rock Mountain then down on to the road beside Spelga Dam. The trek can end here after around three hours, or can continue on to Slieve Muck to the East of the road, and then follow the Wall for one of the most inspiring Mountain Treks in Ireland, The Mourne wall walk, taking in Carn Mountain, Slieve Loughshannagh, Slieve Meelbeg, Slieve Bearnagh, Slievenaglogh, Slieve Corragh, Slieve Commedagh and finishing with Slieve donard, then down into Newcastle. I suggest one or two overnights for the Mourne Wall Walk to fully appreciate it.
(Comment Rating 3.60)
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Picture from gary
by gary 29 Dec 2004
PHOTO: Looking down onto Hen Mountain from Cock.(Comment Rating 3.50)
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Picture from darrenf : Taken on route to Pigeon - southern cairn higher?
Picture: Taken on route to Pigeon - southern cairn higher?
Hen as mighty as Cock?
by darrenf 22 Sep 2010
I can't face up to the truth, it pains me too much!! I dare not say it out loud but I think I have fallen in love with the Mournes. Being a Dublin man it should come as no surprise that I have spent most weekends, for as long as I can remember anyway, on the Wicklow hills. Similar to a young fella who always ends up in the same bar on a Saturday night the Wicklow hills are my local, and no matter what always will be. However in recent months I have found myself in the Mournes, and on more than a few occassions have stayed the weekend. The Mournes themselves have a lot of charm and interest with numerous dramatic peaks, rocky tors and of course the infamous mourne wall. Indeed the whole area has plenty to offer - great facilities for walkers, plenty of decent accomodation, quaint villages, forest parks, the sea and of the course the mountains!(Comment Rating 3.50)
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(End of comment section for Cock Mountain.)
Slieve Donard, 850m
Harry Goodman
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