What have these cliffs not seen!

A blue sky over Benleagh and not a contrail in sight, thanks to the vagaries of Icelandic ash! And that wasn’t the only thing I had to wonder at, as I walked along the arching cliff-top the other day.

For one thing, a group of climbers was slowly working its way up one of the crumbling buttresses of the cliff face (the one you can see in the photo). Do those chaps know something about the law of gravity that the rest of us known nothing of? The granite on the cliff face, shattered by the passage of ice into giant, cantilevered blocks, has all the appearance of a tilted, top-heavy stack of dominos that only needs a careless nudge to come tumbling down. I’m sure a mathematician could produce a very sobering calculation of the various probabilities.

Looking around, I almost found it more reassuring to turn my thoughts to the bloody battle that raged in the two valleys around Benleagh, on the 25 August 1580. When Lord Grey made his ill-fated attempt to crush the Gaelic power of Feagh McHugh O’Byrne by leading his army into Glenmalure, it is surmised that he left his baggage train in the Glen of Imaal and approached either from the west, over Table Mountain and Camenabologue, or from the southwest, between Cannow Mountain and Benleagh, dropping down into the Fraughan Rock Glen. One of the English chroniclers who lived to fight another day describes the terrain as follows: “When we entered the foresaid Glen, we were forced to slide some tymes three or four fadoms er we colde staie our feete; it was in depth where we entered … full of stones, rocks, bogs and wood, in the bottom thereof a ryver full of lose stones, wch we were dryven to crosse dyverse tymes.” Even in its present state of deforestation, one can still imagine what the invading troops had to contend with in these valleys before ever the wily Feagh fell upon them. Anyone sitting that August day on Benleagh would have had a grandstand view of some of the proceedings. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/126/comment/4648/

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padodes on Benleagh

Benleagh can also be approached from the south, and even without having to do any rock climbing it is one of the more challenging ways of getting to the top. The photo, which I took three weeks ago while descending from Art's Lough, helps to visualise the route. Following the forest track from Baravore into Fraughan Rock Glen, when you draw level with the last stand of now fast disappearing pines on the right hand side before the cliffs begin to tower above (the pines visible mid way up the slope on the right of photo), leave the track (roughly, B (T054 939)) and head straight for the left hand side of the pines (D (T052 940)) and from there climb straight up the steepening slope. When I climbed it myself earlier this year, I emerged through a little gully onto the ridge at E (T051 943). Looking at the picture, this route may appear quite straightforward, but it gives little idea of the difficulties of the terrain. The slope quickly becomes a jumble of rocks and boulders, often with a thick covering of heather, fern, furze and fraughans. It sometimes requires a hands-on effort to keep balance and avoid hidden holes between the rocks, but scrambling would be too fine a word for it. Once on the ridge, it is easy to follow it westwards to its hightest point before turning slightly NW to the nondescript summit of Benleagh itself. In fine weather, the walk along the ridge offers wonderful views of the hanging valleys at the head of the glen or of Art's Lough to the south, like a blue eye winking across from under the dark brow of Cloghernagh. It's easy to wax lyrical in places like this. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/126/comment/2845/

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A nice ascent

There's nothing too interesting about Benleagh top, it's fairly flat and boggy, though it is exciting to hear the rumble of explosions coming over the hill from Glen of Imaal artillery range.
To make up for the unimpressive summit Benleagh has a lovely ascent from Fraughan Rock Glen. Before you start the steep climb up the side of the valley you walk along a quiet and peaceful track with lovely views looking up from between the high cliffs to the foot of Lugnaquilla. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/126/comment/15037/

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GWPR on Benleagh

Winter now and the shorter day mean an earlier start to get 5/6 hours in the mountains.

I start at Baravore Youth Hostel at the top of Glenmalure and follow the track around to the left
to reveal the great opening of the Fraughan Rock Glen. On my right hand side are the imposing cliffs of Benleagh. and on the left the brooding shoulder of Cloghernagh ,in shadow in the early morning light. Climbing up by the left side of the waterfall, winter rains have formed cascades over great polished slabs of granite. To the sounds of gurgling waters I arrive at the top of the hanging valley leading to the opening of the Fraughan Rock Glen. I head for a gully directly ahead and start a short scramble to arrive on a bony ridge which connects to that great East-West Spur between Lug and Cloghernagh.
Lug is ahead now and above the South Prison the ground is white with frost.
Arriving at the great cairn I take a breather and some photos of course! Hikers are arriving from all
directions to meet at this great gathering point. Others are heading for Table Mt and the Three Lakes
but I head east now for Cloghernagh and plan to descend by Art’s Lough.
On my left Kelly’s Lough is dark and mysterious under Corrigasleggaun.
Arriving at the cairn on Cloghernagh I take great care to get the next part right as the descent to Art’s Lough is a bit tricky. Joss Lynam in his excellent book ‘ Walk Guide – East of Ireland’ recommends – ‘To avoid cliffs on the direct route (from the cairn on Cloghernagh) walk about north/northeast for approx. 500m., then swing north and finally northwest to descend on a grassy ramp to the lake.’ Having followed these directions faithfully what a sight I beheld. Here in the late winter sunlight , Art’sLough like a liquid mirror held a perfect relection of the Cliffs of Benleagh! Could I capture on camera this magnificent mountain view? I took as many photos as the late evening light allowed with the thought that I still needed light for the tough descent from Art’s Lough to the track back to Baravore. Reluctantly I descend with an everlasting image in my mind, if not on film! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/126/comment/763/

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darrenf on Benleagh

With the short spell of good weather we appear to be having it would be a shame not to get out over the weekend. So I headed off down to Glenmalur on Saturday 13th March. Yup I had it all planned out...just me, Lug, the snow capped peaks and if I was lucky maybe even some deer. Sure who else would be out what the rugby on.....as I struggled to find a suitable spot to lay up the car in Baravore carpark B'vore (T066 942) I cursed my niavity. Well I was here now and would have to make the most of the day. Im not the biggest fan of heavy populated areas and would tend to steer clear of the general direction the hoards seem to be moving toward. So after a quick review of the map it was decided, Benleagh & Camenabologue would be on the menu.

Crossed the Avonbeg River via the footbridge and contuined along the gravel track which leads up to the an oige youth hostel and shortly afterwards took the track which bears left (contuining on the original track will take you further into the Glenmalur valley). Followed this forest track right around into Fraughan Glen where the views really open out in front of you. The entire track is not clearly identified on Sheet 56 (at least my dated one!!) but it will take you deep into the glen and only really peters out at the back wall of the glen - at this point another faint track can be picked up which stays to the right hand side of the benleagh river and continues up and over Fraughan Glen. Spectacular views back down the glen and across to Lugduff can be enjoyed. Once over the glen I was glad I decided to give Lug a miss given the amount of people coming to and fro. Sticking next to the benleagh river will provide a good handrail and before long the river noticebly forks right and I forked with it! The going along this strecth of the walk was boggy and gaiters are advisable! The river eventually peters out but navigation is simple enough. It did however take me some time to locate the exact summit of Benleagh but after much circling around I stumbled upon the cairn which is perched aloft a peat hag.

I couldn't resist a short detour before I contuined on to Camenabologue and I headed east of Benleagh to really get a good look over the cliffs surrounding Fraughan Glen. The picture below was taken from one of the rocky outcrops over the glen on the Benleagh side, and clearly shows Arts Lough. From here I retraced my steps back to Benleagh and continued on to Camenabologue. Refer to same for rest of route. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/126/comment/4506/

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