padodes on Scarr

A walk centred on Kanturk (close to Scarr) could begin at the forest entrance, Inch S (O106 055). Following the forest track to the end and through a curtain of trees, you meet the Inchavore River and walk downstream. Just where the valley broadens out, there’s a small coppice of native trees – among them several specimens of oak – that probably gives a good idea of the local woodland in the past, before the pine plantations came. On the flanks of Kanturk, to the right, can soon be seen the livid scar of a blocked-off mine shaft, similar to those in Glendalough and Glendasan. Further on, the crumbling ruins, close to where the road out of the valley begins, were perhaps also related to this activity, although the name of the area, Bolenasaggart, seems to point in another direction. This isn’t a bad place (A (O139 042)) to start climbing up to the right, the only climb of the walk and no more than 300m. It avoids a lot of the knee-high heather that is a feature of the gentler slopes further on. Among the knolls on top, there is a trodden path in places, but don’t count on keeping to it if the mist falls! At the western end, a track continues SW to the car park at Glenmacnass Waterfall, so at some point you will need to make your way NW, taking your bearings from Carrigshouk in the distance and aiming to meet the road around B (O103 044). You have to make your own track over this rolling but not unpleasant bogland, where turf cutting is still carried on in the traditional way. When you finally reach the Military Road, there remains a walk to the starting point, about one and a half kms away to the right. The circuit is no more than 11 kms. Kanturk may not be as airy as its close neighbour, Scarr, but it definitely has its own charms. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/210/comment/3132/

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aburden on Scarr

Great two car route for shaking off the cobwebs - meet at the finish which is commonly known as 'the piers' [C (O17200 06534)]. Drop one car here and drive on to the Start at [ OldBge X (O15786 01978)]. The route goes via Scarr and Kanturk before dropping down into the Inchavore Valley. If you aim to hit the valley at the end of the track running north east along Lough Dan - you may discover a cave which appears to be a disused mine [D (O13717 04214)]. The Copse in the vally makes an ideal lunch spot before crossing the river and an enjoyable walk along the lake. The last km or so is uphill on tarmac. Distance = 12.5km; time 5hr (incl. 30mins stops) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/210/comment/2120/

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simon3 on Scarr

A popular route from Scarr is to head North-East towards Knocknacloghoge (534m) . In the way is the Inchavore River. You may have heard of a handy bridge crossing this. Don't believe it! On the occasion that I was there one Feb, it was extremely hard to cross the river, although we did manage near to the site of the bridge where there is a small island. It's at E (O124 044). Another option would be to walk upstream until the river narrows. It may be a long way. That's the near wilderness for you.
Update about bridge summer 2006. Apparently there is a bridge somewhere around there in place again. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/210/comment/341/

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Small cairn, big views

Leaving one car at Pier Gates, we drove to Oldbridge parking on a grassy verge ( OldBge X (O15823 01944)). Just ahead on the left is a well surfaced track that leads steadily uphill past farms and several new houses. Follow this until the point where it swings sharply left and leave it to head through a gateway straight ahead onto a grassy boreen that leads onto the lower slopes of Scarr. Just past an NPWS sign, follow a discernable track through the bracken on the far right close to the trees, at the top of which bear west over low gorse, heather and bilberry to meet with a ridge path up to Scarr.

Dramatic vistas reward the walker from the ridge: Knocknacloghoge, the tumbled down rocks on its slope gleaming white in the sun, interspersed with beautiful swathes of golden gorse and purple heather mingling with the greens of bracken and conifer; in the valley below, Lough Dan, the wind creating continually changing mazy patterns over its inky blue surface, and on the skyline the gleaming quartzite peak of Great Sugar Loaf. The heightening wind sent clouds hurrying across the sky casting immense brooding shadows over the land whipping the ragged white heads of the nearby bog cotton into a frenzy.

A steady climb over ground that is occasionally boggy and rocky in places brings one onto the grassy summit of Scarr with its small cairn and big views. Moorland undulates east towards the coast merging with deep green swathes of forestry and a colourful late summer patchwork quilt of fields, beyond which is the sea. And all around, wave upon wave of purple tainted mountains fade away into indigo, blue and smoky grey.

Descending in a NW direction provides fine views over Tonelagee, its slopes sweeping down to the Glenmacnass River flowing like quicksilver below. Close to the Old Military Road it cascades chaotically down over rocks to the glen below, its harsh cadence periodically audible before being snatched by the wind.

Our route over the heath to Kanturk offered exceptionally fine walking, passing by a phallic shaped rock at F (O12505 02798), bog pools and several glacial erratics like giants’ marbles accidentally dropped in a game eons ago. Grand views of Scarr lay behind us, rising skyward like a shark’s fin, and as we descended NE over short wiry heather, Lough Dan again came into view. On its NW shore is a sickle-shaped beach of golden sand deposited by the Inchavore River that meanders in serpentine fashion down the valley to empty into the lake close to a thin ribbon of trees.

Caution was needed as we made our descent over steep ground towards the Inchavore River; the heather and bracken is waist high in places and obscured rocks beneath. We soon came to a rocky pathway bounding forestry leading towards Lough Dan. A small cairn and a pile of stones on a rock outcrop on the path direct the walker down through the trees by a mossy wall (G (O13223 04310)) to gain a copse of oaks beside the river. Our next objective: Knocknacloghoge. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/210/comment/6040/

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davekav on Scarr

From Scarr and along the ridge of Kanturk Hill is an excellant walk for introducing people to hill walking. When approaching from Roundwood, veer right at Oldbridge and park along the left hand side. Theres a small lane way on the left before the campsite. Take this to begin the ascent to Scarr itself. The ascent offers a slight challange, enough to give people the feel for hill walking. From the summit there are fine panoramic views, particularly of Glenmacnass, Tonelagee and back over towards Fancy and Djouce. You can then follow the ridge over Kanturk Mountain. As you follow this path you can see down into Glenmacnass Waterfall and as you begin the descent of Kanturk the views of Lough Dan are excellant. The final stage of the walk takes you along the road along the shore of the lake itself. All in all a not too taxing walk with excellant views that can be accomplished in around three and a half hours with time for lunch. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/210/comment/549/

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