Cookies. This website uses cookies, which are small text files that the website puts on your device to facilitate operation. Cookies help us provide a better service to you. They are used to track general user traffic information and to help the website function properly.

Click to hide this notice for 30 days.
Welcome to MountainViews
If you want to use the website often please enrol (quick and free) at top right.

Newsletters Index

Previous Newsletters

The Summit

Monthly newsletter of MountainViews.ie for guestuser

October 2014

NEWS - INFORMATION - RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS - FEATURES - FORUMS

PIC OF THE MONTH

 Highlights:
WEST, NORTH, SOUTH Route ideas and places to go, many to "new" places.

VIDEOS: Five videos and a review.emVee-tube, our video section.

Book Review, Sean Rothery Reprint of A Long Walk South

User interface changes Changes made, comment critical. Take a look.

Upcoming: MOUNTAINVIEWS - WALKERS ASSOCIATION - and MORE

WALKERS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND:
For a full list of Challenge Walks, visit here.
MOUNTAIN MEITHEAL: the following are upcoming work days for 2014:
05/10/2014 18/10/2014 02/11/2014 15/11/2014
We publicise Mountain Meitheal because they make practical repairs to some of the more popular areas we walk on, using a voluntary community based approach. (More information at their website.)

Picture of the month

Gortnagarn of itself never looked to me like much of a place to visit. No scrambling hard-won ascent. But what a view from near the top as brought to us by member eamonoc. Click for source comment.

Regions: MOUNTAIN COMMENTS - TRIP REPORTS - TRACKS - SUMMARIES
In short: Discovery

Featured summit report
Irelands largest wild animal
by Colin Murphy: Torc West Top is unmarked by a cairn or other prominence. However it is a fairly well-defined grassy mound with great views over the lakes of Killarney and towards Torc mountain itself. On my descent I stumbled upon (almost literally) a small group of Red Deer. Luckily they didn't flee too far before I could get a snap. Strikingly large and beautiful animals close up. Apparently they are Ireland's largest wild animal, or so I read. Having come within about 10 metres of them, I can't disagree with that. The larger animal in the shot came almost to my shoulder.


NORTH: Wiley, windy moors (probably)
The Cuilcagh Way is a 33km loop walk over this exceptionally distinctive border-straddling mountain, and it has made a deep impression on Heathcliff, who reports some new board walks and some missing waymarks.
Heathcliff on Cuilcagh: A walk on the wild side !
By Heathcliff 25sept.2014 completed "Cuilcagh Way" Mon.22nd Sept.This 33km loop walk from Cladagh Bridge took me 9 hours,including breaks.Part of the route is officially closed owing to a landslide (2010?) but with weather being so dry decided to take a chance.So glad I did-one of finest walks I've ever done!! Good news is ,a board walk over very marshy ground approaching the ascent is neari ... Click here


NORTH: Crack(l)ing Pig
The behemoth that is Muckish commands a huge swathe of Donegal with considerebly more stage presence than the majority of the 159 Irish summits that are higher. Taking the risk of believing a man from Cork, Aidy has prioritised a visit and come away very glad he did.
Aidy on Muckish: Brilliant Experience
A few weeks ago, coming down from Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Toinne and making my way back to Cronin's Yard, I fell in to the company of a very knowledgable Corkman - obviously a very experienced hill walker. He had walked many of the mountains in my own northern end of the country, and was particularly effusive about Muckish. As he clearly knew his stuff, I resolved to tackle Muckish sooner rath ... Click here


WEST: Podiatrist on standby...
Such an extended outing would normally claim first place in the loony stakes in a given month, but that reckons without conormcbandon's inspired decision to do the Maum Turks walk as a circuit rather than an end-to-end excursion. Words would normally fail me, but unfortunately procedure demands that I come up with some: it's hard to imagine anything longer than this being accomplished by anyone other than a high-class fellrunner within a single day, so one can't help but chuckle at the final words of his description...'For little extra effort Lackavrea and Knocknagur could be bagged with the benefit of longer days.' If I attempted all 50km and 3000m of really rough ascent (almost all pathless) of that itinerary and then decided to stick another two tops on the end...I suspect I'd need a seance to file my track reviews from then on in.
conormcbandon on A round of the Maamturks
I took advantage of a good weather/life/work window for this walk, Length:49.9km, Climb: 2880m, Area: Corcóg, Maamturks (Ireland) Corcóg, Cruiscín, Click here


WEST: Just like the good old days...
The urge to climb a hill just because you notice it in the flesh is one with which we can all empathise, and so it was that garrettd was compelled to go up Knockmaa, undeterred by his lack of a map or indeed knowledge of its name. No fairies sighted though, which is disappointing.
garrettd on Knockmaa: Great reward for only a little effort.
I climbed Knockma on my return from a walk in Joyce Country. I didn't know its name, I had no map and I wasn't even sure if it was a listed summit on Mountainviews. As the only prominent hill for miles around I had a fair guess that it was but it would have been well worth the effort in any case. Park in the public car park and walk straight up the path with the (late 16th century?) tower house ... Click here


WEST: Awesome!, apparently...
Possibly the only range of Irish hills even more unjustifiably ignored than those on Dingle is the Nephin Begs of Mayo. A band of reasonably eminent Summiteers has been active hereabouts, and onzy has uploaded a track of the Glendahurk Horseshoe. As described it takes in four tops; those prepared for a little road walking could add a further two or three to the end. Not to be missed is the NE Ridge of Corranabinnia SW Top, one of very few scrambly ridges in Ireland's hills. (Perhaps someone could come up with a pithier name for it; after all, would so many folk know about the Eigerwand if it was just called the North-West Face of the Eiger?).
Onzy on Glendahurk Horseshoe
Awesome! Description to follow. walk, Length:15.7km, Climb: 1026m, Area: Bengorm, North Mayo (Ireland) Bengorm, Bengorm NW Top, Corranabinnia, Corra Click here


Featured track report
simonburn's take on doing the Carran group
Some years ago I visited the Carran group a less frequented place SE of Kilgarvan in east Cork. Carran itself just makes the Vandeleur-Lynam category. Access was somewhat awkward, though possible, the way I did it (Track 1964). If you are prepared to walk 32k then you can take a much more interesting route as this one from Simon Burn does, taking in a host of other smaller hills in the Shehy/Knockboys.
simoburn on PMG Walk 43- The Carran Summits
PMG Walk 43 - The Carran Summits - Much easier walking. walk, Length:32.1km, Climb: 1066m, Area: Mweelin, Shehy/Knockboy (Ireland) Mweelin, Lackabaun Click here


Whatever the length or terrain covered, please do submit suggestions for this "Featured Track" spot in future at admin@mountainviews.ie
SOUTH: Committed, in both senses of the word...
The Irish water supply seems to have been spiked with hallucinogens again, as this month's tracks mark a definite return to the territory named 'clinically insane'. What could be better than a walk taking in Mullaghanish, Caherbarnagh and the Paps in a single push? 'Just about anything' would be the sensible answer, but simoburn's Project Mountain Goat has long since forsaken such indecision. Anyone seeking further self-mutilation could always include Knockullane's E top as well, which he amazingly opted to exclude.
simoburn on PMG Walk 39 - Mullaghanish to The Paps
PMG Walk 39 - Mullaghanish to The Paps - Overcast but dry! V walk, Length:32.9km, Climb: 1785m, Area: Knockullane, Paps/Derrynasaggart (Ireland) Knoc Click here


SOUTH: Clearagh Thinking
One of the most prodigiously prolific collectors of hill summits in these islands has recently started recording his ascents on MountainViews, and when you've done the best part of 6000 (yes, that's six thousand...in the grand tradition of when they have to spell out an unbelievable football score in words rather than numbers) I'm sure we can forgive chalky for noticing the relative oddness of the trig column on this otherwise rank-and-file Binnion.
chalky on Clearagh Hill: Trig with a difference.
Cycled to start of a farm track at W3690 6525 which can be followed S then W then S again to near edge of trees which can be followed to the Trig which unusually had 4 bolts on top rather than the normal round centre plate. Click here


SOUTH: Cuchulainn's back garden
Less suffering is involved in the central reaches of the wonderland of Dingle, and here onzy has visited some very lofty and scenic summits that somehow remain relatively unfashionable, possibly due to the siren call of Brandon a few miles further on (a situation both fortunate and unfortunate for those who enjoy quietness, and the weather tends to be less fickle on these hills than on Brandon in my experience). His route starts from the gorgeously tranquil Annascaul Lake before wandering up the valley onto the moor from where the high tops are picked off. This is a glorious day out and can be extended by adding the summits around Cnoc na Banoige.
Onzy on Beenoskee & Stradbally
Circular route over Stradbally Mountain, Beenoskee, Coombane walk, Length:17.0km, Climb: 956m, Area: Stradbally Mountain, Central Dingle (Ireland) St Click here


Sorry if we didn't mention what you posted .. there's a list of all contributors for the month later.

FURTHER NEWS

Eruption in Japan kills 30 ...
There are quite a few ex-volcanos Ireland, but fortunately none active in the last few million years. Not so in Japan.
Click for info

BOOK REVIEWS

Book review: A Long Walk South by Sean Rothery Publisher: The Collins Press
Published : Originally 2001, republished 2014

In this Camino obsessed era, this fine book is a welcome reminder of other wonderful long distance walks. First published as a hardback in 2001, Collins Press have now issued it in paperback. I first encountered this book about 10 years ago, marked down in price and seemingly unloved in a Limerick bookshop. I enjoyed reading it so much that I turned from the final page to the first and read it a second time. It is an account of a walk along the GR5 trail which runs over 2,000 km from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The GR5 crosses through Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland. The full walk takes 3 or 4 months. Séan Rothery, a Dublin architect, marked his retirement not by taking up golf but instead by walking across a continent. The format of the book is a day-by-day account of his walk along the GR5. It’s a format that could easily become tedious, but Rothery is a skilled writer and he quickly draws the reader into his journey. There are wonderful descriptions of places and people, high mountains, canals and lakes. He started his journey on the bleak North Sea, always drawn southwards by the heat and the light of the Med. There is plenty of history for example as he crosses First World War battlefields or admires . The book is also adorned with some of the many drawings he made on route. Rothery made his journey in 1994. Although only 20 years ago, this was an era without sat-navs, smartphones or Wi-fi. He clearly endured some lonely moments but by travelling alone he opened himself to meeting many locals and fellow walkers. The book is part autobiography as Rothery reflects back on a serious climbing accident he survived in the Alps in 1967. Well worth reading.

-- Aidan Dillon

emVee-Tube

Videos this month:
(mcrtchly & kernowclimber)

(gerrym)

(gerrym)

(bradleylinemihler)

(scannerman)

Videography by Peter Walker.

Video review
Captain Vertigo reviews the Mountaineering Ireland video we mentioned in the August newsletter.
CaptainVertigo on Protecting Ireland's Mountains
I cannot say for certain who created Mountaineering Ireland's YouTube essay "Protecting Ireland's Mountains" but whether the Director/Producer/Crew was Helen Lawless, the MI Conservation Officer, or a multitude of her servants and agents, whether it cost €500 or €50,000, the result has been a rather beautiful and thought provoking piece. The film opens with a quote from John Muir, the Scottish ... Click here


SITE NEWS

MAD changes
MAD that is in "Main Area Display", the unique map page combining route and summit data, where MountainViews has been making various user interface improvements. Well, we thought they were improvements however commenters so far have begged to differ.
Do take a look and see what you think. Full info
simon3 on Experimental User Interface Changes.
MountainViews addresses various communities from the experienced frequently visiting member to the far more numerous occasional or first time user. a. In an effort to make the website more self explanatory we have put in several yellow explanatory "tooltips" which explain what a particular field means or will do. b. There's an awful lot of data on the website as a result of our success in at ... Click here


SUMMITEERS CORNER
A place for those interested in Summiteering, Bagging or Highpointing.


A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits - The Vandeleur-Lynams & The Arderins
MountainViews first book available online and in many bookshops. The first reprint with numerous minor amendments is now out.

simon3 on A Guide to Irelands Mountain Summits
MountainViews first book available online and in many bookshops.

As members will know, for over a decade, Mountainviews.ie has been providing unique information to hillwalkers on all aspects of exploring and enjoying Ireland's upland areas. It's been a collaborative effort by over 1000 of you, and currently contains over 6000 comments on 1057 mountains and hills on the island of Ireland ... Click here
Bulk sales to groups such as Scouts/ Guides: contact admin@mountainviews.ie for a discounted price.

This month.
Kudos to our contributors.

We welcome the following new members who enrolled this month. aboveandbeyond, acetylene, Aideen99, aisling123, A_Malfatti, Bagger_Plz, Barry115, Bettymurphyhb, calfburner, compassman, Coolcreen, coxd214, coyle232, CuilChaoin, delboyir, devsy7, Dmcdonald79, Edelweiss, farrenp, g07797, Garahy, gerw, Gpk, Heathcliff, jds6up, jerry007, JimBones, JKelly, Joshua3, ktmg, Mac-Uchta, martinsp, marymmross, McConvey1952, Meunclemichael, michaelfinn, michaelmelia, mimmo, mrmoj0, nadav, Nikki, noca13, odonnells, oloughlk, peaches, peteablitt, Pinefox, quinnle, reginald, RobiBailey, rosscado, samapril, seamaspeineas, shanemccullough, thatguysteve, tim300458, Tombeisty, TommyV, Wellshaman, westham (60)

Our contributors to all threads this month: Aidy (3), Bleck Cra (1), BleckCra (1), CaptainVertigo (7), Colin Murphy (1), Conor74 (1), Fergalh (2), Heathcliff (1), Onzy (6), Peter Walker (3), Trailtrekker (3), brenno (1), camellia (1), chalky (3), conormcbandon (6), des carroll (1), dimser (1), eamonoc (1), elarbee (1), garrettd (6), gringottsgoblin (1), Communal summary entries (15), happymourneview (2), hazyview (1), jackill (7), mcrtchly (3), oldboots (1), paddyhillsbagger (1), paul condon (1), sandman (3), scannerman (1), simoburn (39), simon3 (3), smmccann (2)
For a fuller list view Community | Recent Contributors

There were comments on the following summits , Altnapaste, Benchoona, Bleanbeg, Brandon, Bunnacunneen, Clearagh Hill, Corranabinnia, Croghan, Cuilcagh, Drumnalough Hill, Faughil, Gafarrettemoyle SW Top, Gortnadrehy, Keale Mountain, Kilmacomma Hill, Knockmaa, Knocknarea, Muckish, Mucklety Hill, Musheramore, Scarr, Shrone Hill, Slemish, Slieve Carr, Slieve Meelmore, Slievecarnane, Slievemeel, Slievemore (Sherkin Island), The Paps East, Torc Mountain, Trostan
and these tracks Ballinacor Mountain, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Ballyhoura Mountains Ireland, Bengorm, North Mayo Ireland, Black Hill, Antrim Hills Ireland, Bleanbeg, Shannon Ireland, Brockagh Mountain SE Top, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Búcán, Maamturks Ireland, Carrigawaddra, Mangerton Ireland, Collin Top, Antrim Hills Ireland, Coomagearlahy W Top, Paps/Derrynasaggart Ireland, Corcóg, Maamturks Ireland, Crocknafarragh, Donegal NW Ireland, Croghan Hill, North Midlands Ireland, Crotlieve Mountain, Mourne Mountains Ireland, Derroograne, Shehy/Knockboy Ireland, Derrybawn Mountain, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Doughill Mountain, Shehy/Knockboy Ireland, Duntryleague Hill, Ballyhoura Mountains Ireland, Faughil, Cooley/Gullion Ireland, Fauscoum, Comeragh Mountains Ireland, Knockanaguish, Mangerton Ireland, Knockastia, North Midlands Ireland, Knockbrack, Shehy/Knockboy Ireland, Knockullane, Paps/Derrynasaggart Ireland, Lugduff SE Top, Dublin/Wicklow Ireland, Maughanaclea Hills W Top, Shehy/Knockboy Ireland, Mweelin, Shehy/Knockboy Ireland, Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains Ireland, Slievenaglogh, Mourne Mountains Ireland, Stradbally Mountain, Central Dingle Ireland, The Bones, MacGillycuddy's Reeks Ireland, Tooreenbaha, Caha Mountains Ireland tracks and these walks were created (none in period)

Thanks to all 1153 who have ever contributed summits or routes info and forums.

For a full list view Community | Contributors Hall of Fame

Summary. MountainViews now has 7155 comments about 1293 different hills & mountains out of the total in our current full list (1384). We want to get a good gps track showing each of the major ways up every summit in Ireland. If you see an option to add a "Short Summary" then do please consider creating one since another objective is to have a short summary for every summit in Ireland. There's a few (91) opportunities for you to be the first to comment on a summit.

NOTICES

Notices
  • If you are contributing, please be careful to respect the interests of landowners. Suggest access routes well away from houses, gardens or that could conceivably impact farming activities. When walking, keep away from gardens or farm buildings. Use stiles or gates wherever possible. Never do anything that could allow animals to roam where the farmer did not intend. Ask permission where appropriate.
  • Report suspicious activity to the police forces, as below.
  • If your car is broken into in an upland area report it to the PSNI or Gardai as this will help them be aware of the issue and tackle it in future. Store the numbers. In Northern Ireland use the PSNI non-emergency number 0845 600 8000. In the Republic you can find the local Garda District HQs phone numbers at www.garda.ie/Stations/Default.aspx. Specifically for the hotspot of Wicklow: the Garda Divisional Headquarters in Bray is 01 6665300.
  • If you hear of a problem area or route, write it up in MountainViews which does everyone a service.
    Report rubbish tipping in the Republic - ring EPA hotline 1850 365 121
    Report quads in national park area (in which they are banned). For Wicklow please phone the Duty Ranger: 087-9803899 or the office during office hours Telephone: +353-404-45800. Put these numbers in your phone, take regs etc. Let MV know of contact numbers for other areas.
  • If you have climbed some of the less well known places, we would appreciate a summit rating and also GPS readings for summits.
  • If we can, let's make MV have more than one route up a summit so as to reduce the tendency for paths to appear. Your grid refs in comments for different starting points show up on MountainViews maps as well as GPS tracks.
  • MountainViews are on Twitter as MountainViewsIE. Follow us and we will follow you back. Any queries to secretary@mountainviews.ie

This newsletter

This newsletter Editor: Simon Stewart, Homepage: www.simonstewart.ie
Assistant editors: Colin Murphy, David Owens
Track reviews: Peter Walker, Tom Condon
Book reviews: Mel O'Hara, Conor Murphy, Aidan Dillon, Peter Walker, Michael Kinahan
Videography: Peter Walker, Video Reviews: Paul Moore
Graphics design advice: madfrankie
Newsletter archive. View previous newsletters mountainviews.ie/newsletter
RETURNING TO MOUNTAINVIEWS Click on (If you have cookies on in your browser then you will be prompted as to username/ password. If you forget the password, the login page can email you a replacement.)
UNSUBSCRIBING If you don't want to receive any further monthly newsletters from Mountain Views click on Settings. Then change the option beside "Include on occasional mailing list" to "Do not include". Then click the "Save" button.
Alternatively let us know by email at admin@mountainviews.ie Include the email address you got this at or your screen-name.