Brendan777 on Garraun

I climbed Garraun on 8th September 2007 using the ridge leading up from Lough Fee. It was a gloriously sunny day and the views in all directions were outstanding. There are a couple of false summits on this ascent which can be a bit disheartening if you aren't expecting them. As has been said before, the actual summit is a bit featureless but the beauty and solitude make this part of the Northern Bens well worth a visit. See the attached photo, taken from the southern side of the Lecknavarna valley which shows the ridge, with majestic Mweelrea in the top left background. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/281/comment/2827/

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gerrym on Garraun

Approached from L Fee, first climbing up the steep grassy ridge to the summit of Benchoona. This is a varied and sizable top with a number of small loughs and cairns - in stark contrast with the top of Garraun which is non descript. There is a drop down to the SE to the col containing another small lough. There is a short climb to the summit of Garraun with its two small cairns a short distance apart. The only saving grace in the contrast with Benchoona are the views which open up even further. There are endless swathes of nothingness in the low ground beween the high mountains in every direction. The vista takes in the Bens, Partrys, Bengorm, Sheffreys and Mweelra with the Bens having the strongest magnetism.
Descent was by the E ridge which drops down steeply. I dropped off onto the steep grassy ground heading down to L Fee, heading for an isolated house on the shore and followed a wall skirting around to the track leading to the car. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/281/comment/2982/

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rain, mud and no views

Climbed Garraun and Garraun South top on Saturday February 12th 2012. The weather forecast was for good bright spells with some showers, so I was hopeful for some good views. However halfway up Garraun ESE spur clouds and soaking rain descended on me and did not leave me alone until almost back at the car. Therefore I dropped my plans of including Benchoona and Binn Fhraoigh. I started from the church and followed the minor road along Lough Fee until its end at a house and a sheep pen. I entered the gate and climbed west towards the spur. There is a gate in the fence at B (L79265 60398) offering access to the spur. I followed up the spur aiming for the false summit at 480m (C (L77364 60924)) which blocks the actual summit of Garraun from view. Before the clouds descended I got a good view on the very steep neighbouring ridge up to Benchoona. Might be an option for a quick steep ascent, but not terrain I'd want to bother with on descent. The photo, which was taken at around 250m height, shows the fallse summit and part of the Benchoona ridge. The summit of Garraun is rather featureless apart from two small cairns. I had a bit of a challenge navigating my way to Garraun South due to the lack of visibility and the boggy/muddy terrain which was soaked by heavy overnight rain. Had to retrace my steps several times to avoid some very bad patches and steep slippery turf slopes. Same story for the first part of the descent from Garraun south. Descended through wet bogland and entered the road through a gate at D (L79191 58941). Have to return here on a fine day to take in the views. If you want to follow in my footsteps then download the gps trail at http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/user.do?name=fkaatje. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/281/comment/6681/

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CaptainVertigo on Garraun

The so-called Northern Bens offer excellent returns for relatively little effort. In August 2006 my teenage sons and I followed the route suggested in WWI No.72 which involved parking near Creeragh Church on the Letterfrack to Leenane road (E (L802 594)), and walking along a boreen which runs roughly parallel to the south western shore of Lough Fee. Circa Fee L (L795 605), almost in front of a lonely but very much inhabited cottage turn left (westerly) and ascend the long spur that narrows as it heads for Garraun (598 m). It was a short hop across to Ben Choona and then back across Garraun to Binn Fhraoigh (of which more anon). Perhaps the most rewarding viewpoint was at the spot height marked 556 on Harvey's Map. During our time on the summits we saw the Renvyle peninsula with Tully Mountain to the west (and on to Inisbofin); Mweelrea and Killary to the north; to the east Lough Fee and the stately Turks; to the south Kylemore lake and the Twelve Bens. We descended another long spur (to the south of Lecknavarna river): the photo shows the great canvas of the northern Inagh Valley , bounded by the Turks and the Twelve Bens. When the Navan Trekkers arrived in Tully Cross for our October Weekend it was decided to repeat the route with all grades participating. Although the morning was wet the day cleared in time for the descent, and I was once again treated to the view in the photo. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/281/comment/2572/

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simon3 on Garraun

Garraun is roughly as exciting as Lemnaheltia. Which is to say that it is flattish and featureless. The photo shows the two small cairns on the summit. An easy way to get to Garraun is via a distinctive spur that stretches from the summit to the east. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/281/comment/778/

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