Garraun South Top is situated in the less-visited northern half of the Twelve Bens, separated from the more prominent hills by the N59. It lends itself well to being combined in routes with other hills, particularly Benchoona and Garraun itself, but also Doughruagh further southwest. The summit itself is an unremarkable grassy mound marked only by a handful of stones. 800m out the western spur however, lies the more satisfyingly craggy Altnagaighera (not an MV listed hill) with a great impression of exposure.

The most direct way to this summit alone would be to ascend by the obvious spur to its south and east. Park on the road at the southern end of Lough Fee (L804 596 A) and head north along a farm track skirting the western side of the lake. At around L800 600 B, head west over featureless and wet ground onto the spur. This could be combined with visits to Benchoona and Garraun, before descending by the eastern spur off Garraun and back to Lough Fee.

A more challenging route begins from the northern end of Lough Fee (L780 621 C), and ascends the eastern spur of Benchoona before heading south to Garruan South Top itself. This route is best left for a dry day with good visibility. It is also better for ascent than descent.

Garraun South Top can also be reached from Lettergesh to the northwest, beginning at L74958 63413 D and ascending over Benchoona to the summit. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/5107/

Altnagaighera. From here, eternity does not seem so far. You can spend a long hour staring at the dark green northern face of Doughruach. But it is vaguely disturbing, and suggestive of purgatory. Better to study the north Connemara coastline, and its several islands, and enormous beaches of south Mayo- splashes of heaven on a clear day. Altnagaighera, though no more than a pimple on the massif, gives an impression of exposure, just enough to drive off any hint of smugness. The whiff of danger adds piquancy to the Paul Henry merging of sky sea and land. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/2573/

Reading the comments on Garraun South Top, I notice that it is often referred to as Lemnaheltia. By rights, though, I think that name only applies to the craggy buttress SW of the top (part of it can be seen in the photo, with Doughruagh behind). That is reflected in the Harvey map of Connemara which even seems to pinpoint a spot at approx. L 763 598 E. It would also correspond to the origen of the name Léim na hilte (the Doe's Leap), which is derived from the story of Fionn Mac Cumhail's favourite hound, Bran, who, in hot pursuit of a doe, jumped over the crags and tumbled headlong into the lake below. (There were no mighty Connemara sheep fences to break his fall in those days.) The crags are a beautiful place to forget about time and soak in the scenery. As for the name 'Garraun South Top', which doesn't appear on the Harvey map, I suppose it's as good as any other. It has at least the merit of adding another 500m top to the list. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/2755/

Garraun South Top itself is an unremarkable grassy mound marked only by a handful of stones, although it boasts fine views. Much more interesting is the craggy top of Altnagaighera about 800m to the west. The views from this spot on a fine day are remarkable and there is much more of a sense of having reached a genuine summit. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/3169/

This misty panorama shows the dark Doughruagh to the left with Altnagaighera, the toothy spur of Lemnaheltia to the right. Oh, you can see so much of interest in this picture, despite the overcast. Between the peaks is a view of the Renvyle peninsula and some prominent lakes. The first of these, below Doughruagh, is Knappagh Lough, the further lake to the right is L. Acreagh while faintly in the distance is Tully Lough. The island to the right is “Crump Island”. Lost in the mist above it lies another island, Inishturk, however the low Inishbofin island is visible just to the right of the hill at the end of the peninsula (Tully Mountain 356m) Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/479/

Lough Knappagh stands at the foot of the dark Doughruagh mountain across the valley. Doughruagh is dark because it is made of a black rock, gabbro. In sharp contrast to this is the gaudily coloured and patterned conglomerate rock that breaks out in places such as to the left of this picture which was taken from Altnagaighera, the interesting spur of Lemnaheltia. To the right of the picture Lough Touther and some of the coastline near Letterfrack. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/347/comment/496/