simon3 on Moanlaur

About 600m SW of of Moanlaur there is another flattish summit, Knockmore. It could be argued that it is a separate peak, however by my reckoning its prominence (the amount it rises above any connecting ridge in this case from Moanlaur) is about 26m which is less than the 30m that our current list requires.

From Knockmore's top further Kerry views are plentiful. There's the sea to the south with Inch Strand and Cromane sticking into Dingle Bay. There's views to the north west towards Stradbally Mountain.

Our photo shows what can be seen looking west along the Moanlaur ridge. With the right weather and light there is a superb picture to be had here, which the picture only hints at. To the left in the reddish haze there's a glint off the sea with the bulky blob of Kells Mtn/ Knocknadobar just visible on the left skyline. Straight ahead is Beenduff 515m with the sharper ridge of Emlagh 483m beyond and slightly to the right. Just right of centre are further mountains on the continuation of the ridge (unnamed with heights 374m and 334) and further high ground near Knockafeehane 301m. Together they make a series of repeated shapes disappearing into blue haze. On the right of the picture the land rises as our view extends right down the Dingle peninsula. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/332/comment/2126/

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simon3 on Moanlaur

Perhaps you are resting between major days of climbing, perhaps you are looking for a great place to find a Kerry view. Whatever, I would recommend you try the walk to Moanlaur from the East. It's not far but it has great views. One place to park and start is from the Aughils to Camp road where there is a little parking, for example at CahCon Rt (Q71601 05001).

Going South to North this road goes up the gentle side of a scarp. The north side has a steep face which continues west into the corrie valley cut into the (inevitable) north east corner of Knockbrack 459m, the eastern end of the ridge leading to Moanlaur. Walk along this for interesting views into the valley known as Coumastabla which appears to have considerable mine workings.

Richard Mersey [The Hills of Cork & Kerry 1987] is the only guidebook I could find mentioning this walk. He said "It [the walk] is, simply, the traverse of the western Slieve Mish, that is Knockbrack, Moanlaur, Knockmore and trig. point 1,584."

Moanlaur is reached across boggy more or less trackless terrain although as of 2005 there was some fencing which conveniently had fallen down at its nearest point to the summit probably because the posts of the fence had come loose in the soft ground. Not surprising since Moanlaur's name is about bog - Moanlaur means Middle Bog.

The picture shows Moanlaur on a windy December day from Knockbrack. Note the extreme green of the ground near the camera. It's not grass, it's moss. In a lot of places, including the summit of Moanlaur, the heather is often partly or fully replaced by moss. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/332/comment/2125/

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simon3 on Moanlaur

Another photo from the ridge, this one about 1.2km NE of Moanlaur (near Knockbrack).
Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/332/comment/2155/

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Looking at the western Slieve Mish

In thisphoto, taken from Caherbla, Moanlaur dominates the view to the west. Moanlaur also dominates Knockbrack, which appears as a mere pimple rising above the valley called Coumastabla below Moanlaur. (Knockbrack is just above the coum in the middle ground). One way to reach Moanlaur is via Lack Mountain from B (Q71600 04900), where a rough track leads some of the way up to Lack Mountain. Another approach could be made from the good track to the right of the coum, visible in the photo, which begins near some buildings at approx C (Q70900 05700) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/332/comment/14767/

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Pleasant on a summers day

Did a lovely walk along the ridge today taking in 4 tops, the ascent and descent from the Camino D' Kerry is tough but so worth it. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/332/comment/19556/

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