MountainViews: Info on Nephin Néifinn (806m) in area North Mayo

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North Mayo Area

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Maximum height for area: 806 metres

Summits in area: 38

OS Map(s): 22, 23, 24, 30, 31 for all tops

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Nephin Mountain	Mayo County
Néifinn A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. Néifinn [OSI], poss. 'sanctuary' [PDT])
Height: 806 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 23/31 for top
Grid Ref: G10347 07975	Latitude: 54.013280 Longitude: -9.368351
ITM: 510316 807984	Prominence: 778m Isolation: 3.4km
Nephin is a problematic name and few sources venture an interpretation. It is mentioned as one of the twelve great mountains of Ireland in Cath Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Moyturra), where it is called Nemthenn. This is suggestive of nemeton, a Nephin is the highest mountain in the North Mayo area and the 36th highest in Ireland. Nephin is the second highest point in county Mayo. Our data has reached 75% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Nephin

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Nephin in area North Mayo, County Mayo, Ireland

Picture: View down the NE spur of Nephin Expand pics.

A very pleasant surprise

by Harry Goodman 8 Jun 2010 Many of the comments I had read about Nephin were to the effect that it was a boring mountain both to look at and to climb. This said it has been on my hit list for a very long time and as I had an opportunity to go and see for myself on Mon 24 May 2010 I decided that now was the time to do so. We parked carefully off road at Prughlish Forest G0871104389 (Point A) between two gates, one wooden and locked and a second metal farm gate that was not locked. We went through the metal gate and followed a stoney track NW along the side of the forest up to a farm house where we were met by a howling pack of eight dogs running at us across the field. Fortunately both the sheep farmer and his wife were also in the field and soon had the dogs under control. On asking if we could gain access to the mountain we were told that we were most welcome to do so and the farmer even directed us to a stile he had erected for use by walkers. He also indicated that he had built a number of stiles for this purpose and had even tied plastic sacks around the strand of barred wire to safeguard anyone crossing over. Happy in the knowledge that we were welcome to cross his land we set off in pursuit of Nephin. From the farm house we went to G0915804874 (Point B) and our first stile. Once over we headed across the large field to another fence and stile at G0908905643 (Point C). We then followed the line of the fence left to gain the high point and the start of the long ridge up Nephin G0894305418 (Point D). Once there it is more or less a straight climb NE up the ridge to the top. Indeed the steepest and most troublesome part of the climb is in the first few hundred metres along the ridge where the heather is thickest but soon gives way to much shorter undergrowth. For navigation purposes in poor visability I would suggest two intermediate points at G0970906733 (Point E) and G0990407210 (Point F) before the final walk up to the summit at G1034607970 (Point G). The climb is steady, long, but not on a difficult gradient. The short heather and grass evenually gives way to a stoney slope which is cairned all the way to the top. Once we had taken in the views from the summit E over Lough Cong, down the impressive NE and SE stoney spurs and then W to the Nephin Beg Range we had our lunch within a stone shelter about 100 metres down the slope at G1034607802 (Point H). Our descent was by way of ascent. The total distance walked was approx 9.5k, and we were up and down very comfortably in four hours. In my view this is a mountain well worth climbing. By the way, the farmer does not live at the farm and I suspect the dogs would not be left there unattended lest anyone is put off by the possibility of encountering them.

Point A: G08711 04389	Point B: G09158 04874	Point C: G09089 05643
Point D: G08943 05418	Point E: G09709 06733	Point F: G09904 07210
Point G: G10346 07970	Point H: G10346 07802	(turn area map On)

(Comment Rating 3.92) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Nephin from Knockffertagh in Nephin Begs Expand pics.

by gerrym 1 Jan 2006 Climbed 26.3.05. Was going to follow route described in "Walk Guide west of Ireland" but this was shrouded in mist with wind coming from E. The sun was breaking through on the W side so I tried my luck and parked at a layby at 109104 (Point I) and approached from the N. There is a gate and bog track leading onto the hill but also a No Trespassing sign so I crossed the fence at the layby and followed the stream uphill. This is through high gorse bushes with thier bright yellow flowers. As the banks of the stream steepen cross to the L and make for a fence climbing the rise. Continue on when the fence ends and eventually the steep bowl of the N corrie comes into view. there is now a steep pull up the W side of the corrie, initially on heather but rockier when gain ridge proper. This is a nice walk with steep slopes either side and the steep walls of the corrie for company. Fantastic views as climb with the waters of Lough Conn dominating the view E as clouds floating over below. To the N and W were the vast flat areas of brown bog , broken only by the contrast of forestry plantations. In the distance the cooling tower of Bellacorick power station (disused ?) rose like an ancient castle. To the W the summit of Glencar just peaked out from a mass of cloud. As reach the top of the ridge there are a couple of small cairns and then a broad stoney area, with further small cairns at intervals guiding the way to the summit trig point. There are substancial remains of a stone structure just to the E of the trig point which I assume are related to sheep farming ? the views from the top were breath taking as all cloud had melted away to blue skies. There was still some cloud in the valleys around but glimpes of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick to the S came and went and the Nephin Beg mountains and the distinct dome of Slievemore on Achill. Met a fellow walker at the trig point basking in the sun and trying to take in the massive views. Had the pleasure of his company as came down the W side of the corrie - some areas of scree and then slippery heather. Meet up with stream that followed up and back down to where car was parked. Took 3 hours in all at leisurely pace and hit a perfect weather window as the mountain was covered in heavy cloud by the time had come down. I really enjoyed this walk and the great views that came with it. Not much scope for continuing a longer walk but with mountain areas within easy drive would be part of a good weekend - I continued on to the Nephin Begs.

Point I: G109 104

(turn area map On)

(Comment Rating 3.69) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by bryanmccabe 1 Feb 2009 Climbed Nephin on 31/1/09. Parked at the entrance to Pruglish forest, to the SW of the mountain, walked up past the farmhouse and along the edge of the forest, under the pylons. At the end of the forest, we crossed a stile and veered slightly left to pick up the mountain shoulder at a low level. It is quite a distance from the forest to the summit (about 3km). The cloud level was about 400m, so it was very difficult to know how far we had left to go, with all the false tops along the way. Once we reached about 650m, the gradient became very mild and there were plenty of snow patches at that level. We stayed no more than 1 minute at the trig station as we were exposed to a bitter east wind. On the way down, we retraced our steps to about 650m and then took a southerly route off the mountain to meet up with a minor road leading to the road running NE/SW on the south of the mountain. This involved a steep descent over slippy peat. Once below cloud level, the views over Lough Beltra and Clew Bay were spectacular.
In terms of physical effort, Nephin is relatively straight forward for an 800m+ mountain.

(Comment Rating 3.64) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by Jamessheerin 9 Aug 2008 Jamessheerin- I was on Nephin yesterday and was devastated by the amount of damage done to the mountain since I was last up there - I am referring to the cairns littering the hillside, 15+ on the SW slope alone; and the sign writing antics - people spelling their initials with rocks on the ground! The sign writing might be expected on Croagh Patrick which attracts all sorts, but it was shocking to see it here. This is an environmental CRIME! The proliferation of cairns on Nephin (and most Western mountains) is evidence of an increasing aspect of hillwalking - environmental ignorance and gross stupidity! The only cairn that should be on any mountain is the one that is shown on the map!

(Comment Rating 3.52) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by simon3 16 Jan 2005 The isolated mountain central on the pic is Nephin 806m, with Lough Conn in the background.
The Nephin Begs start to the left of the pic with Knockaffertagh at about 8 o'clock from Nephin. Beltra Lough is at about 5 o'clock with snow on Croaghmoyle at the right of the pic. A windfarm at Lenanavea ridge to the right (east) of Croaghmoyle above a dark green patch of forest is just visible as five white dots.

This picture comes to us from Brendan Walsh who took it from a plane en-route to the other side of the Atlantic.

(Comment Rating 3.47) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Near the summit of Nephin Expand pics.

by Colin Murphy 8 Dec 2008 Parked at Grid ref 083 052 (Point J) (close to rmilne’s suggestion), at the entrance to what is now a new conifer plantation on the west side of the R312. As we were about to set off, an elderly farmer pulled up and hailed us, two dogs yapping frenziedly in the back of his 4 wheel drive. We approached nervously and listened as he informed us we were about to cross his land. To our relief the kindly gentleman told us not to cross the fence and ditch adjacent to where we were as ‘we’d tear our accoutrements’ on the barbed wire fence and bramble-filled ditch. Instead he directed us about 300 metres north along the road where we would find a gate leading to a grasy track which continued a bit up the mountain before vanishing into heathery hillside. Thanking him we took his advice and enjoyed a fairly straightforward ascent north east along a ridge (which narrows to about 20m at one point) to a snow-capped Nephin. No views unfortunately but the white-carpeted top made up for it. 2 hours up in a cold wind, 1 hour 15 mins down.

Point J: G083 052

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(Comment Rating 3.42) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

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