Lyracappul is a grassy steep-sided mt at the W end of the well-defined Galtees’ ridge. The regular routes present no danger although it’s a steep pull-up from the W. Navigational help is provided by the substantial Galtee Wall. Extensive views from the summit incl the Knockmealdowns, Comeraghs and much of the lower plains to the N and W.

SE. Park at King’s Yard R87525 19961 A and follow a track to the north. At R87411 21078 B either follow the stream N to the Galtee Wall at R86399 23980 C or head first for the summit of Galtymore before following the wall west to L.

SE. Park at R86902 19633 D and follow the track NNW, hopping a fence after a few hundred m and following the forest boundary before heading directly for the summit of Monabrack. Next stop is Carrignabinnia before heading SW for Lyracappul. [allow 2hrs] Descend via the Knockaterriffs or backtrack to R86399 23980 C before dropping into the S facing valley, following the stream all the way back to King’s Yard from where a series of tracks will take you back to the start point.

W. Find somewhere to park near R80498 21696 E and follow track/3508 first to Paradise Hill and eventually out of the forest all the time following the western ridge until you veer NE for the summit of Temple Hill close to the 700m contour line. From here it’s an easy walk to K’terriff Beg and on to L. [2.5 hrs]

Notable tracks incl. track/4249, track/3651 and track/4533 Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/29/comment/4789/

After a day and a half of mist enveloped mountains it was a pleasure on 10 10 10 to climb Lyracappul as our first "clear" top on a round that also included Temple Hill, Knockaterrif Beg, Carrignabinnia and Monabrack (See my comments on Knockaterrif Beg for previous part of the route). From the coll below the S spur of the mountain R8430022400 F we climbed steadily up N to the rocky SW end of the ridge leading to the summit. From the top R8456223179 G, with its high stone cairn, we had a view back SW across to Temple Hill, a top visited but not seen, earlier in the day. We also got our first glimpse of Galtymore (also topped, but not seen, on the previous day) as it poked up out of a heavy white cloud base into a clear blue sky. Sitting having our break on this fine ridge above the Glen of Agherlow to the NW and the Golden Vale to the SE was simply beautiful. Reluctantly we shouldered the ruckstacks and pressed on along the ridge and then down NE towards our next top, Carrignabinnia. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/29/comment/6419/

This photo taken on 23/10/04 from Temple Hill when it seemed to have been raining everywhere else in the country shows the impressive southern approach to Lyracappul from Knockateriff Beg which is to the right foreground and not in picture. Descending to the col from Temple Hill be careful not to lose more height than you need to. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/29/comment/1277/

Pat crossing a snow drift on the top of Lyracappul in March 2004- started at woods carpark R819 185 H on to Temple Hill (where we met the Bishopstown Hillwalking Club- hello to all) then Lyracappul (note wall to left of photo which appears on the map but is nearly obscured by placenames - you can follow it all the way to the County boundry wall R85431 23607 I) Carraignabinnia, Slievecushnabinnia,then bearing 20 degrees to R868 258 J, bearing 90 degrees across stile to Lough Curra signpost to finish at Clydagh carpark. 15 km - 5.25 hours Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/29/comment/1068/

I was looking through some photos from last year (December I think) and, with the newly discovered miracle that is photoshop, managed to come up with this panorama from the summit of Lyracappul. From the left is Galtymore, Lyracappul South East top, Knockaterriff , Knockaterriff Beg, and Temple Hill on the extreme left. One of the less trodden routes you can take here involves climbing up Lyracappul South East top, over to Lyracappul and down via Knockaterriff. On this route you may seek out the "crop-circle"sheep pen on the side of Lyracappul South East top, the masterpiece of stonework that is the wall beside the track that runs along the Blackrock river, the ruined booley houses on the side of Knockaterriff and the sheer face of exposed rock in Pigeonrock Glen. Lyracappul has always given me a sense of splendid isolation when standing on top of it. Steep drops on three sides,good shelter crouching behind the county wall for the oxtail soup and the ham sandwich, with the countryside stretching out below. Paradise indeed. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/29/comment/2020/