|
|
 |
|
|
| Maximum height for area: 925 metres |
Summits in area: 88 |
| OS Map(s): 28B, 49, 50, 55, 56, 61, 62 for all tops |
Set Area Map On |
|
 |
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Walk Guide 59 for
|
Glendalough Circuit with Camaderry, Mullacor
|
Maintainer: simon3
 (Guide rating: 4.17) |
Overview
Walk length: 21.0km Ascent: 1050m Duration (without stops): 5:50 h:mm
Classic route around Glendalough Upper Lake starting from near the visitor centre. This version avoids the worst of the trail damage on Camaderry taking a more interesting route with good views into the Glendalough valley. There are various possible escape routes and variations. It is possible to get to the start and finish by bus or from a nearby hostel.
Points visited: Start = T123 969 - Path start = T115 973 - Turn at fence = T100 971 - Scramble from here = T092 967 - Camaderry - Glenealo River = T071 964 - Lugduff - Lugduff SE Top - Mullacor - Turn left = T109 938 - Derrybawn Mountain - T114 957 - Upper Car Park = T111 962 - Finish = T123 969 (Guide last changed: 2007-09-02)
|
Approaches
If you are driving from Dublin head down the N11 (parts of which are called the M11). Turn off at Kilmacanoge for Roundwood and then Laragh. From Laragh head to the Glendalough Hotel.
Parking options: Immediately after the bridge beside the Glendalough Hotel there is a smallish carpark. This is ideal however tends to be full after 10ish at weekends. It is also possible to park in the Visitor Centre which is reached before the Glendalough Hotel.
It is possible to reach the area and stay using the St Kevins Bus from Dublin and also to stay in the An Oige Hostel which is near the Glendalough Hotel mentioned earlier.
|
Start, the Fern Path
From the vicinity of the Glendalough Hotel go west around 230m and take the first turn right. Follow this track for around 800m and find a small path left uphill 11559 97376 (Point A). The last time I was there it was opposite the second set of stepping stones that you come to as you move upstream. As of 2007 the small path is through a wood. Walk along the path, joining forest roads, sometimes surrounded by ferns, giving it the name, and tracks which lead uphill to open ground on the broad east ridge of Camaderry.
|
Points visited
Follow a somewhat eroded path west. As of early 2007 there was a fire which burned much of the heather on the northern side of this path.
At around 100171 (Point B) you come to a dilapidated fence and you have a choice. You can continue up the path directly towards the lower east summit of Camaderry. This route has some of the worst trail damage in Wicklow and is really unpleasant to walk on. Or you can go left (south) following the fence until you reach the top of the ferns where you contour heading westwards. There are some deertracks here and great views but the cost is slightly more climbing and some scrambling at the end (see Scramble from here in the Outline Places Visit above).
At 092967 (Point C) after around 570m start scrambling and then walking up-hill NW. If you can see the valley floor as in the first picture you need to have gone around 340m from the lake parallel to the river. Don't delay the ascent too far as the ground steepens and eventually comes to a place used by rock-climbers. Head NW for Camaderry. Note there is a path between the slightly lower east ridge summit of Camaderry (677m on OS map) to the main summit and target (698m).
|
From Camaderry
The top of Camaderry may have a good view of the top of Turlough Hill, known as Tomaneena in MV, which has a man-made reservoir on top of it. Our route continues across the Glenealo Valley and then up to Lugduff however there are two further options from the middle of the valley (shown as Glenealo Valley on the route map) and described in the next paragraph.
Our main route however goes up Lugduff. When you reach the very broad top you can then head for Lugduff SE top, a summit with no cairn. Once on top of this head for Mullacor. It is possible to use a short stretch of boardwalk here before climbing Mullacor. In the middle of the col there is also another escape option, through the forest in a broadly NE direction which eventually comes to the area of the carparks.
As you walk up Mullacor you will see some serious ruts. These were partly caused by a series of scrambler bike races which were held in the late 80's or early 90's followed by stream erosion.
From the boggy top of Mullacor head along its east ridge crossing a fence and looking out for the distinctive shape of the Derrybawn ridge heading NE. The actual place you turn left for this is at T10877 93820 (Point D) however it is fairly obvious on the ground. Walk along the nasty walker gashed route to the Derrybawn ridge. This is around 1.6k long and bumps up and down a bit before reaching a cairn.
|
Options at the bridge.
To take these, turn left at the river, go downstream towards a path. At the bridge you can exercise one option, a shorter walk with a relatively small amount of further climbing, by crossing the bridge and following the boardwalk SE towards the "Spink". This route is not difficult navigationally if you stick to the boardwalk.
The other option from the bridge is to start descending immediately. Do not cross the bridge. Head E and downhill along rough paths towards the main Glendalough Valley. You will come to a miner's path which leads back to the car park.
|
Mullacor and Derrybawn
As you walk up Mullacor you will see some serious ruts. These were partly caused by a series of scrambler bike races which were held in the late 80's or early 90's followed by stream erosion.
From the boggy top of Mullacor head along its east ridge crossing a fence and looking out for the distinctive shape of the Derrybawn ridge heading NE. The actual place you turn left for this is at T10877 93820 (Point D) however it is fairly obvious on the ground. Walk along the nasty walker gashed route to the Derrybawn ridge. This is around 1.6k long and bumps up and down a bit before reaching a cairn.
|
Finish
From the summit area of Derrybawn you can see much of the route you have come. You go NW down another walker gash to the corner of the forest and then further down by tracks heading broadly north until you come to the valley floor.
You will arrive at the Glendalough Upper Car Park where, in season you put back any weight you may have lost by slurping icecream or eating burgers.
The three route options mentioned earlier also reach here.
From here take the Green Road, a forest track on the south side of the smaller or Lower Glendalough Lake, crossing a bridge into the "Monastic City" recognisable by its round tower. Following the path through this you will reach the vicinity of the Glendalough Hotel and the area you set out from.
|
| Point A: T11559 97376 |
Point B: O100 171 |
Point C: T092 967 |
| Point D: T10877 93820 |
(turn area map On) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
