A day and a night in Joyce Country

As you drive from Maum to Leenaun (on the R336), there's a road that brings you into the Maumturks from the northeast. In February 2011, I drove into Gleann Glaise to explore this remote corner of Joyce Country. The road winds it's way into the valley where you're quickly surrounded by mountains and a wonderful feeling of remoteness. I parked on a gravel lay-by about half way up the valley Bl'brack Tri (L8835 5525) and headed for Maumahoge B (L8776 5371). Stopping for lunch on the summit of Knocknahillion, the panorama stretched from Mweelrea to the north, rising above Killary Harbour, to the maze of watery ground extending to Galway Bay to the south. I continued over Letterbreckaun, my high point for the day, and by the time I reached the holy well at Tobar Feichin C (L8578 5640) the sun was setting behind the Bens and it was time to head back down to Gleann Glaise. I got back to the van as the first star twinkled and my head-torch battery dwindled. Just as well I didn't really need to use it... or so I thought.

As I attempted to reverse out onto the road, rather than move backward, I seemed to be moving downward. I got out to inspect the situation and, with my torch now completely dead, I assessed the damage by touch. As the wheels turned the stones had parted, exposing the bog beneath. The rear wheels were now well below ground, rendering movement in any direction extremely unlikely. I was in a remote valley, out of mobile phone coverage, stuck in a bog, alone, in the dark... great!

That first star was now joined by a host of heavenly beauties. As I marvelled at the unfolding spectacle I tripped over a concrete block that was lying by the side of the road. This got me thinking... Raising one wheel at a time and using various found objects I managed to regain buoyancy and traction. A series of three point turn manoeuvres followed, repeating the concrete block and jack assembly with each change of direction, but by the time the novelty of all this was wearing off I realised I'd boxed myself into a corner and I wasn't going to be able to get out - not in the dark anyway.

What to do... I didn't fancy the long walk out to god knows where so I decided to sleep in the van and see what the morning would bring. Morning brought confirmation that I wasn't going to get out of this unaided, so after a fig-roll breakfast, I started my long trek out of the valley, leaving the van stranded in what now resembled the site of an archaeological dig.

Miraculously, within minutes of leaving my encampment, an old Transit van puffed its way up the road towards me. Clearly visible through the front window were three Connemara men - forestry men! I told them my story and with some strategic redistribution of gravel and six large hands placed against the back of the van, I drove gingerly but triumphantly back onto the road. We shook hands, discussed the recent election results, and went our separate ways. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/161/comment/14700/

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silver on Letterbreckaun

View of Binn Bhriocain from Maumean Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/161/comment/1623/

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pdtempan on Letterbreckaun

In this view Binn Bhriocáin is seen from Benbaun in the Twelve Bens, with Lough Inagh in the middleground. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/161/comment/768/

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fkaatje on Letterbreckaun

On Saturday March 21st I had a great sunny afternoon out on the Cnoc na hUillean - Binn Bhriocain ridge. I started on the Maumeen valley road at the small carpark near the bridge SW of col Mam Ochoige. Aim straight for the lowest point of the col keeping the stream on your left. Once the stream veers to the left continue straight up negotiating a very steep grass slope until it flattens out near the col. Upon reaching the wide col you can immediately go up the ridge to your left.

The ridge itself is fairly straightforward and has no particular difficult sections apart from some light scrambling and a short but impressive steep grass slope just above col Mam Tuiric. Just make sure you don't miss out any of the turns on this serpentine like ridge. If you have a GPS then best use the waypoints of the Maamturks challenge (http://www.simonstewart.ie/Turks/mt3.htm). And of course you should not skip the short detour to the top of Cnoc na hUillean.

The descent from Mam Tuirc to the west is a relaxed gentle slope. Keep the stream on your left until the terrain flattens out. Then cross the stream and stroll in a SW direction through the bog until you reach the Western Way which you follow back to the car. I used 6 hours to complete this walk in a moderate pace including a few short breaks.

You can view and download my GPS trail from http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=D (M330 075).

Tip: If you need a quick escape from the ridge you can probably descend back to the road from the col between Cnoc na hUillean and Maumean. I have not done this myself but studied it top-down as well as bottom-up and it looks moderae steep but very do-able. To avoid the steeper parts if looks like if you should start descend nortwest, then west and then southwest. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/161/comment/3662/

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Circular route from Glenlosh

I did the two Binn Bhriocáins and the two Cnoc na hUilleanns today in a circular route starting and ending in Glenlosh at the starting point noted by madfrankie in his comment for Knockahillion. The route back down was via the southern side of the spur of Binn Bhriocáin NE Top marked as Maumturkmore on the Harvey map. It's a very steep descent down from Binn Bhriocáin NE Top, but manageable with care. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/161/comment/6114/

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