Small in name but not in nature

I climbed Nephin Beg by parking on a forest track at A (F97144 05177). I followed the Western Way/Bangor Trail and in a few hundred metres came to the Brogan Carroll Bothy at BrogC Bty (F96902 05511). This bothy is a well built and quaint stone structure with a slate roof. Weatherproof and with a fireplace, it would be a great base for those doing day walks in the area.

The Bangor Trail splits from the Western Way at the bothy and crosses a tributary of the Srahmore River by a lovely little footbridge. After this the Trail follows the river, crossing another little bridge at I (F96040 05667). The Trail then branches away from the river and crosses open bog and rough ground for a few kms. The sense of near-wilderness builds as you leave the houses and roads behind. However nearby forestry operations, fencing and marker posts don’t quite allow that utter isolation feeling.

About 4.5kms from the car at J (F93822 07247), the Letterkeen Loop walk splits from the Bangor Trail. I used this to gain access to Nephin Beg South Top. If doing the same ensure you take the trail ABOVE the treeline, and not the trail that heads into the trees just before it, as this will involve some adventurous scrabbling about to get back above the trees! As height is gained and the views open up the sense of being isolated is really developing. It is a straightforward walk up the hill and the unremarkable summit is marked by little pile of stones. However it affords fantastic views of Glennamong and Corranabinnia across the valley. It’s also possible to look back over much of the previous 5 kms just walked.

From here I dropped 65 metres into the col to the north before climbing the 280 metres up to the main Nephin Beg summit, passing through the 505metre spot height at K (F93157 09317) along the way. Nephin Beg is marked by a small cylindrical cairn with a little pointed pile of stones on top. The views at the summit are remarkable as you are now looking across vast areas of uninhabited bog, hills and forestry to the south, east and west. To the north lies the large bulk of isolated Slieve Carr. Continuing north I dropped 350 metres down steep ground into the col shared with Slieve Carr. From the col I headed west and dropped another 100 metres to the Bangor Trail which had meandered around Nephin Beg and was running through the vast bog below. I followed the Trail further north and had some difficulty crossing a stream in spate at L (F91648 11020). I spent a night at a tin bothy on the Trail at M (F90649 11350) (read my comment on Slieve Carr for info on this!). After climbing Carr the following morning I followed the Bangor Trail the 15kms back to my car. The Trail was tough to follow for a few kilometres because of wet ground, heavy bog and long grass. However after a few kms it improved somewhat and eventually became easy to follow as bridges re-emerged on streams and rough stepping stones appeared on dodgy sections of bog. A long but rewarding way to climb a great hill! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/233/comment/6059/

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A prominent viewing platform

Starting at the Brogan Carroll Bothy N (F968 055) I climbed Nephin Beg on 8 May 2012 by way of the Bangor Trail and Nephin Beg S Top. (For earlier part of the route see my comments on Nephin Beg S Top). From the S Top we dropped down N to the col O (F935 087) before going up NW over Pt. 505 P (F932 094) and then after a further 300m Q (F930 096) NNE to the top R (F93197 10223). The push up, while only 277m in height gain, was a bit of a trudge up a pathless slope of some 2k. Once there the top, marked by a distinctive stone cairn, was a superb viewing platform for the entire Nephin Beg Range. Prominent to the NNW was Slieve Carr, regarded as the most remote top in the Nephin Begs, while SW was Glenamong, Bengorm and the mountains of Corranbinna. ENE was the distinctive profile of Nephin and the tops of Birreencorragh, a memorable 360 degree panorama. As we had decided on a circular route for our walk, rather than return by way of ascent, we headed NE along the summit plateau to Pt. 617 S (F935 105). While we were relaxing for a short break we noticed a prominent white band near the top of distant Nephin and were surprised to find, through a monocular that this was snow, in May! From Pt. 617 we then headed due E for some 300m to gain the start of a spur T (F938 105) going NE and then a further 200m along U (F940 106) we changed direction to due E to go steeply down a sharp topped rocky spur, before veering ESE to make for a small cleared area in the forest below V (F94945 10414), crossing a fence on the way. From here it was a short walk down the grassy slope and then along the left bank of a small stream to an unsurfaced but good quality forest road W (F95176 10434), some 3.6k from Nephin Beg summit.We turned right and followed the forest road for some 5k back to the start point for the walk at the Brogan Carroll Bothy. In total our route was 15k. In clear conditions, such as we experienced, the need for a number of the map references that I have given would be questionable but in mist this is a pathless and at times featureless terrain in which it would be better to be safe rather than sorry. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/233/comment/6817/

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milo on Nephin Beg

Gives its name to the range, though it is neither the highest nor the most attractive peak. It can be accessed from the Bangor Erris trail but is not linked to any other summit. A long day could permit Slieve Car and Nephinbeg to be taken either by walking above the Bangor trail or as an out and return from Srahmore at its southern end.Photo shows it as the flat topped summit at the R.H.ofthe picture, with Slieve Car 721m in the centre and Glenamong mountain and valley to the left. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/233/comment/618/

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Nothing to see but cloud!

Following on from Nephin Beg South we took less than an hour to make it to the real summit of Nephin Beg. As already said the meteorological situation i.e. the drizzle/mist and the strong breeze driving this through our not so waterproof clothes meant we had to use our map/compass and God save us, the GPS! Unfortunately again I can't say what the views are like, needless to say we didn't hang about but went on towards Corslieve/Slieve Carr. We dropped off by the Western slope and then North along the ridge to Corslieve with the lke to our right. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/233/comment/5970/

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Remote or Not

Yes........This part of Mayo is remote or is it ...............as you can drive a normal road vehicle to L Avoh Ht (F94109 07375) where there is ample parking and no restrictions on entry or exit......see my comment on Aroher Hill ..sure makes Nephin Beg S Top and Nephin Beg an easy up and down. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/233/comment/18265/

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