Nephin Begs - a serious hiking challenge!

Another of those peaks with an alluring name! Started the hike at the carpark at BrogC Bty (F968 056) beside the Brogan Carroll Bothy shown in gerrym's photo, followed the Bangor Trail to the bridge crossing the river at A (F948 065) before heading roughly in a straight line to the spot height 384 on the ridge which curves towards Glennamong. The final climb from just west of Glennamong East top (spot height 415) to Glennamong itself is initially steep before levelling off. The highest point is not at the cairn but a little further north. We continued to take in Nephin Beg; 3 OS maps were actually required for this hike! Our descent to the Bangor Trail followed the broad ridge running roughly NE; we took a line towards the little lake just south of spot height 256. Care should be taken of the steep gradients to the left in poor visibility. The loss in height is considerable (470m approx), all of which needed to be regained as Nephin Beg and Glennamong have virtually the same elevation.
The photo is taken from near the summit of Glennamong looking into the west Mayo wilderness. Croaghaun and Slievemore on Achill Island are visible in the centre of the picture. The Icelandic ash plume that has been wreaking havoc with flight schedules was also very visible to the west and north. Also prominent from the summit were Benbulbin and the Bluestacks. The whole hike took over 8 hours and was a big effort to bag just two Vandaleur-Lynams; consistent with comments from ahendroff and others that this mountain range is probably the most remote in Ireland. This also served as a reconnaissance trip to have a look at Slieve Carr (the most remote of the Nephin Begs) - I think I'll be bringing the mountain bike for the Western Way as well as the hiking boots!! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/232/comment/4694/

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Remote and stunning

These mountains are among the most remote in Ireland and Glennamong is a long haul no matter which approach you choose to take. The shortest and possibly easiest route is probably from the east along the Bangor Trail, parking at B (F974 054), taking the track on the west of the road that joins with the Western Way, which eventually forks into the Bangor Trail. Follow this NW for about 6km to point C (F935 074) then SW up the gently rising slope for a further 3km. From the summit (marked by a triangular stone and not the cairn nearby) a vast plain extends to the west and north affording amazing views all the way to the western tip of Achill Island. The views to the south and east are equally impressive. It's a long haul, but on a fine day, well worth the effort. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/232/comment/6832/

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Looking back towards Corranabinnia

Whatever way you look, the landscape is stunning. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/232/comment/6833/

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gerrym on Glennamong

(part 2). The ridge climbs up to point 415 which is quite rocky and gave good views across the Bawinduff River valley to the montsrous looking hills of Nephin Beg and Glencar, the tops of which were obscured by cloud but the lower slopes dappled with sunlight. The remainder of this walk was also laid out to the S towards Corranabinnia and the ridge leading to Ben Gorm. There is a drop down from point 415m to an area of peat hags where cross a fence at the thoughtfully piled stones and then start the climb to the summit. Encountered a fox here which kept close tabs on me as it climbed before eventually disappearing. As height is gained the views open out over the surrounding hills to Clew Bay to the S and the peat lowlands away to the N. The summit is a rocky area with a small cairn. It was windy, cold and misty here with little to see until dropped down slightly to the S - fantastic panoramas then opened out over the bogland to the Atlantic and Achill Island with the immediate bulk of Corranabinnia disappearing upward into the mist and down to the double corrie loughs on its NW flank. Cross an area of stone and eroded peat on the descent from the summit, keeping to the edge of the corrie in the pic, where there is a fairly well defined track. I was drawn towards a massive glacial boulder sitting in contrast to its surroundings before heading for the slight drop to the col with Corranabinnia. (see for next part of walk). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/232/comment/1914/

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simon3 on Glennamong

Glennamong forms the northerly summit of a horseshoe walk starting from NW of Lough Feagh. From it there are fine views in many directions. This picture shows Nephin on the skyline to the right of the cairn. To the right again is Birreencorragh, a convoluted mountain with a long central north south ridge and various smaller ridges leading off to West (Mount Eagle) and East (Knockaffertagh). Viewed from Glennamong, which is to its west, the profile of the central NS ridge is well displayed. Only just visible in the small version of this picture is Lough Conn, some 25k away.

The cairn shown here is perhaps 40m south of the summit. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/232/comment/626/

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