It’s possible to do Knocknagnauv as a stand-alone hillwalk by starting from a point on the R669 road between Cappoquin and the Vee. If coming from Cappoquin, park at a farmyard entrance on the right-hand side of the road more or less immediately around the corner after Gloungarrif Bridge. There is room here for one or two cars to pull in without blocking the farmyard gates. This is the start point for a stretch of St Declan’s Way which wends all of three kilometres up to the saddle between Knockmealdown Mountain and Knocknagnauv – the trail is clearly marked (though not named) on OS sheet 74, and is very well waymarked with yellow arrows on wooden stakes every few hundred metres, so you couldn’t go wrong, could you?
The problem is that the trail is so eroded it’s hard to spot in places and impossible to walk it for much of the route. Many parts resemble a watercourse so you have to find an alternative way along by the side. Blessed are the sheep trails, for they are many and very useful for those seeking the righteous path. Blessed are the yellow arrows, without them the Way would be even harder. Blessed are those who reach the saddle, for the extra couple of kilometres from there and back to the top of Knocknagnauv is a doddle. Most Blessed of all are those who walk back the same route they came – they shall be rewarded in the next life for trudging six kilometres that are marginally less pleasurable than sticking hot needles into your eyeballs. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/180/comment/20643/