eflanaga on Knockbrinnea East Top

From the summit of Beenkeeragh IB (V80125 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 IC (V81020 85737), 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: mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/2433/

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Dan on Knockbrinnea East Top

Climbed Knockbrinnea east and west as part of a day long hike taking in Beenkeragh, Carrauntoohil and Caher. Left our campsite beside Lough Callee and started the climb from near the outlet of Lough Gouragh. Its quite a steep and long climb to the top from here. It doesn’t present any major obstacles, its just a bit of an endurance test really, being a long and steady climb. The view back toward Stoompenaduff and Carrauntoohil is great though and on the other side a great view out toward Dingle Bay. Once you’ve reached this summit most of the hard work climbing Beenkeragh has already been done. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/1157/

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murphysw on Knockbrinnea East Top

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: mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/1840/

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sbender on Knockbrinnea East Top

Looking down into the Hags glen along the Beenkeragh ridge after a fantastic climb that started at D (V820 855) 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: mountainviews.ie/summit/22/comment/4087/

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