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Walk Guide 92 for
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Lough Firrib from Wicklow Gap
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Maintainer: dunnejohn
 (Guide rating: 3.83) |
Overview
Walk length: 7.0km Ascent: 300m Duration (without stops): 3:00 h:mm
I first did this walk on a cold January afternoon, but was so taken with the tranquility of the lake that I vowed to come back during summer for a swim, which I duly did on a scorching hot June day, and enjoyed a wonderfully refreshing swim in the lake to soothe those weary legs.
The walk can be difficult and tiring enough going in places but is well worth it to reach the ultimate prize of that remote lake. Initially the walk will take you through an area of forestry, but you will emerge onto a heathery slope, and hike along the banks of a stream for the most part.
Points visited: Start = O055 018 - Lough Firrib = T049 988 - Oakwood = T047 994 - T044 999 - Finish = O055 018 (Guide last changed: 2010-04-19)
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Approaches
Strictly speaking this doesn't start at the Wiclkow gap, but 3 or 4 ks further NW along the R756 from the Gap itself. Park the car at the parking area marked beside Annalecka Br on OS sheet 56, and cross to the southern side of the road.
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Start
Starting off you'll be heading off south through forestry. Use the track marked on the map but this disapears after a short distance. When I did the walk we had to cross an area of felled forestry which was hard enough going underfoot. Eventually you will reach a clearing where parellell power lines run.
Cross the Abhainn Ri stream here and find where the stream meets the brook which emanates in Lough Firrib, at O057 009 (Point A). The steep face of Fair Mountain will be SSE of here. I found the easiest way to find the lake was to walk along the banks of this stream as it runs SW, before turning to run in a roughly southern direction. You will find deer aplenty along the hills here.
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Points visited
Walking along the stream the going is relatively easy with a mild enough incline, but the incline increases in steepness as you near the lake. The last few hundred metres will see you scrambling up steeper slopes, and the brook disappears underground. The lake lies among peat hags on what's practically a plateau, and can be therefore a little difficult to find. Persevere however, you'll get there.
It's a great spot to sit down and enjoy lunch. And if you're lucky enough to have a hot day, hope you didn't forget your swimming togs! The lake is by no means crystal clear, and I've no idea exactly how deep (no more that a couple of metres at it's deepest, at a guess), but it's still very refreshing.
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Finish
To return, we walked along the heather filled ridge which runs NNW (towards the hillside marked 'Oakwood') and on which spot heights 619m and 559m are marked (GR T047 994 (Point B) & T044 999 (Point C) respectively). At the latter we turned NNE and headed back towards the start point. The heather bashing along the hillside here can be hard going, and the feet did get wet crossing the Abhainn Ri on the way back, but it was well worth it.
Those wishing to extend the walk could also take in Art's Cross, roughly west of Lough Firrib, then return NNE to the start point from this. As I recall the total walking time was approximately 4 hours, taken at a leisurely enough pace. This didn't include swimmiing time in the lake!
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| Point A: O057 009 |
Point B: T047 994 |
Point C: T044 999 |
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