A great vantage point

Using Map 78, I found my way to the entrance of the Galty Waterworks and parked at C (R91547 28065) at a line of boulders at the entrance. Going through the boulders I followed the much overgrown remains of an access road south. It became necessary to walk atop the grassy ridge next to the road/track in places, as prickly thorn bushes crowded in to block progress. Passing through the worst of this, I followed the track to a gate at D (R91483 27393). By now views had opened up of the valley and mountains ahead, with Cush to the right, and Galtybeg in the distance.

After passing through the gate onto open bog Knockastakeen looms on the left. The forestry that had been present ceased after the gate. I turned left uphill and handrailed the forest which brought me over the northern tip of the Knockastakeen ridge. After about 400 metres I turned right and followed the ridge south. About 1.5 kms brought me to the summit of Knockastakeen at E (R91517 25824). Amazing views were had of Galtymore, Galtybeg, Lough Muskry and its backdrop of cliffs leading up to Greenane ahead. Cush sits just across the narrow valley to the right and sat high and proud over the forestry on its lower slopes.

This route is straightforward and leads to the top of Knockastakeen in under 1 ½ hours. As an outlier it affords views of the Galtys not possible from anywhere else but Cush. Therefore it is well worth the visit. While I continued on to the main Galty ridge, it would be easy to drop down (steeply) to the valley floor to the west and follow the forest edge back to the gate and on to the starting point. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/307/comment/5836/

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simon3 on Knockastakeen

From the summit there is a clear view of Lough Muskry. This nestles under Greenane.
HC Hart [Climbing in the British Isles 1895] was much impressed by Lough Muskry, waxing lyrical and valedictory “.. Still grander, however, are the cliffs above Lough Muskry. These tower to a height of about 1,200 ft in great terraces and vegetated walls above the north and north-east ends of the lake. .. Should the climber get pounded here (as not seldom happens) let him beware of undue haste. A mouthful of food here has a wonderful effect in steadying the nerves.” Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/307/comment/560/

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simon3 on Knockastakeen

On the way up Knockastakeen from its SE side I got this view of the steep north facing side of the Galtees. From the left, the skyline peaks are first Galtybeg and then Galtymore. To the right is Cush. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/307/comment/562/

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A must on any walk out to Lough Muskry

Climbed Knockastakeen on 11 Oct 2010 as part of a walk out to Lough Muskry on a beautiful still and sunny day. We parked at A (R92000 28300) in a cleared parking area just off the road. As this was the third day of our walking week-end we wanted a shorter walk than those on the previous two days in order to be back at the car and heading for home by early afternoon. We therefore choose the Lough Muskry waymarked walk which starts in Rossadrehid Village but opted to save 2km of road walking each way by parking at A (R92000 28300). From the car park we went left past a barrier and information panel and followed the forest track up, through all junctions, to a stile. Once over the stile the path became much more stony and uneven. We followed it up the open hillside ignoring any off shoots to the left and at its crest, just as it started to descend, we turned right up on to the heather covered moorland to gain the grassy ridge of Knockastakeen and a small but distinct path where we turned left and followed it along to the top of the hill F (R91500 25800). For relatively little effort we found ourselves being treated to one of the best panoramas seen on our week-end walking in the Galtees. Of particular interest was the very fine view we had of Cush, Galtybeg, Galtymore and Slievecushnabinnia, tops climbed two days earlier but not seen, or really enjoyed, due to very high winds and a heavy blanket of mist. The rocky top was a good vantage point for Lough Muskry and the cliff wall backdrop below Greenane. On descending from the top to go to Lough Muskry we headed down to the right and then around the face of the hill's steep, rocky, but small, escarpment, before going SE down to the track. A right turn soon brought us to Lough Muskry where we had a very pleasing break before returning by the track to the car park, a walk of some 7.5 km. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/307/comment/6417/

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mneary34 on Knockastakeen

On 23/10/04 we traversed from Cush to Knockastakeen and headed for an opening in the forest where a stream flows at point G (R905 264). Instead of the small opening we expected there was a gap in the forest approx. 80 metres wide. In the valley between the two mountains we came across this stream which after previous days rain was in full flow. The climb of 240 metres height gain to Knockastakeen is stiff. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/307/comment/1280/

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