A rocky twin top with Knockbrinnea (W), this nice vantage point provides fantastic views north and north east over a wide agricultural hinterland. It is an also excellent vantage point for views into the Hag's Glen. It is easily reached along a sloping ridge from the handy car-park at Lisleibane V82714 87307 A.

An alternative starting point is Cronin's Carpark at V83600 87300 B. Proceed along the track into the Hag's Glen until the bridge crosses the river at V826 864 C. From here proceed directly up the slope to the west. Terrain is mostly grass at first and firm underfoot and initially slope is reasonably gentle, but becomes very steep after about 400M altitude and remains so pretty much to the summit, which is a large rocky area topped by a cairn. 1 hour 15 minuted from car to summit. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/4782/

From the summit of Beenkeeragh IV80125 85246 (see for previous stage of walk) it is a short but fairly steep drop onto the wide col dividing it from the twin peaks of Knockbrinnea. Once on the flat col the ground is much easier to negotiate and if you make for the East top of Knockbrinnea first you can avoid much of the rockier walking until you approach that summit. On my way down I noticed a large number of sheep who appeared somewhat depressed looking. I was unsure what might have been the cause of their malady until I notice that each was adorned with red, white and blue paint daubed on their coats. Obviously, French supporters depressed at their misfortune in the World Cup Final just a few days previously – Zidane’s unfortunate faux pas had obviously added to the feelings of misery they so clearly exhibited as I passed them by. The walk across the col to the east top passing underneath the West top (which I would bag on the return) was a welcome respite from the rocky underfoot conditions experienced since summiting Caher West Top, but it was to be short lived as the ground again turns rocky as you meet the obvious track running below both summits. The top of Knockbrinnea IV 81020 85737 D, with its small cairn is unremarkable in itself, but the views around it are excellent not least that down into the Hags Glen and across to Carrauntoohill’s Northern aspect. There were three walkers on the summit of the highest peak who enthusiastically returned my wave as I made my way from the summit to take a fairly short walk over to its sister top to the west (see for next stage of walk). Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/2433/

On our way down from Beenkeragh we went around the shoulder of Knockbrinnea (W) without summiting it (due to tiredness probably!) but we did get to its lower eastern summit to get our bearings. The views here are stunning. Your fellow hikers look like dust mites on the path down in the Hag's Glen path and you get a great panorama of the Reek's Ridge too. A great plus for this mountain is its wilderness factor. After the veritable M50 that is Carrauntoohil we didn't meet a single soul on Knockbrinnea. The downside is that its side is heavily boulder strewn and you are always careful not to wrench an ankle. We rejoined the Hag's Glen from a gully beside the Hag's Tooth. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/1840/

Looking down into the Hags glen along the Beenkeragh ridge after a fantastic climb that started at V 820 855 E keeping the Hags Teeth to the left. The snow, which started at approx 400m, was very deep at places. So it was on with the crampons an got the ice ax out. It was a very hard climb under these circumstances. Temperature on the summit was around -10 with a gale blowing, so I won't even try to guess what the wind chill added to this. On the way down I visited Stumpa an tSiamh (I think its called Coomcallee on OSi 78) which was a hard scramble to get up on and descent off again. When I arrived back in Glenbeigh, I heard there was a person gone missing that day on the other side of the ridge!!! Makes you think....and plan carefully Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/4087/