Renewing old acquaintances

As I had not been over Eagle Mt. for some time a friend and I decided on 20th April 2010 to include it in a looped walk which also took in the tops of Shanlieve and Finlieve (not a listed mv Top). We parked in the Attical Community Centre Car Park H (J26828 18940) and walked a short way towards the village before turning left into Sandy Brae which we followed along for some 2k to an old foot-bridge SndyBr (J26331 20593). In the past I would have driven up to this point and parked beside some farm buildings but I understand that from time to time there has been some tampering with cars left here and I did not consider it worth taking any chances! Also at this point along the Brae there was a notice stating that the lane beyond is private land. A small detour was therefore necessary by turning left along a stone wall and up to and over a stile. From here we headed NW up the long spur of Eagle Mt. to pick up a track at I (J22525 32167)3. From time to time this path became rather sparse but was always idenifiable as it led us up to a high point at F (J24792 22303) with superb views across the steep E face of the mountain and down to the Windy Gap track. The path then wound around W and N to the top. On the way we stopped to renew our acquaintances with the "Old Man of Eagle" (my name), a cluster of large granite blocks (see photo) on the high cliff edge of the mountain. J (J24766 22331). Once at the summit cairn we walked the short distance across to Batts Wall where we turned left and followed it along to Shanlieve the next top in our planned loop. The views from the top are extensive, in all directions, from Slieve Foye and the Cooleys to the W, the distant Sperrins and Belfast Hills to the N and best of all a wonderful panorama of the High Mournes E with the jagged profile of Slieve Binnian particularly prominent. For someone not wishing to do this loop I would recommend that the Wall is followed NW and then sharply down NE to Windy Gap at G (J24650 23675) where a right turn SE soon leads to a path which can then be followed down to what becomes the Sandy Brae track and back to the start. However remember on the way down to leave the track and follow the short detour around the private land noted on the way up. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/217/comment/4650/

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mneary34 on Eagle Mountain

Eagle Mountain is set well away from the main summits in the Mournes and it takes a dedicated trip to get there. I approached it from Slievemoughanmore and there is quite a height drop between the two. This photo shows the typical Mourne wall leading down from Slievemoughanmore and up more steeply on the other side to the Summit of Eagle Mountain. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/217/comment/1976/

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Bleck Cra on Eagle Mountain

tsunami: the fact that you enjoyed any of that is testament to your determination. The best way to do any any of these is to kick off from just out of Hilltown at the foot of Hen Mountain: that way you can do a horseshoe without even getting the horse's feet damp - unlike your own experience. The castle and red bogs are famous in these airts and will soak you to your gusset even after 6 months of drought. It is also arguable if Finlieve is ever worth the bother. My one and only recollection of same is that the views across Carlingford are stunning but not stunning enough ever to get me back there. Take my route and be very pleased and congratulations for foregoing the main Mourne thoroughfares. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/217/comment/1040/

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Bleck Cra on Eagle Mountain

A couple of weeks back, in appalling conditions, thirty-or-so Drogheda innocents were lead off the Mournes by the Rescue. Some sneer; some not and some are glad no one died.
There is not one of us who has not had the bejasus scared out of us at some time by ……. absolutely nothing. Not kiss-close crags; not sand-blast hail; neither distance nor danger.
It’s that “absolutely nothing” - the blind bog in the black mirk that does the trick.
Of the 15 odd years in the Scottish Hills and now nearly the same in the Mournes and beyond, there are only 2 spots fill me with quaking apprehension every time I beat myself into them.
The knife ridges of Aonach Eagach? The wicked black airiness of Mweelrea? The lepping lottery of the Devil’s Coachroad?
Nope - two black-hearted bogs: South of Mullwharchar in the Galloway Hills and The Red/Castle Bogs: out of Hilltown, out of sight, out of mind.
The latter as I understand is where a third century of terrified youngsters were tracked down by the peak police.
This is a very bad place.

As soon as the mist comes down, two things happen: coming off Eagle, you play safe (to avoid nowhereland) by bearing too far South - problem 1. And now problem 2, navigating what is actually a “flow” - the best of us find ourselves knee-deep in bog with not a stone for a visual ref and the prospect of death exhausting us.
Dragged up on to Pierce’s Castle, you feel like a cormorant come out of an oil slick.
Going the other way ….., alas I have to go with the first opinion above - and were it such, thanks to various saints they never got a-top Eagle or they might have gone a-bottom. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/217/comment/1245/

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simon3 on Eagle Mountain

Descending at sunset one winter’s day off the spur leading north from Eagle’s summit one of my fellow travellers, (well known MV contributor, Bleck Cra) pointed out this misty sunset. The sunset certainly was a thing of beauty which is more than can be said for the boggy, tussocky couple of k we had walking out north along the Rocky Water stream. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/217/comment/1360/

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