I set off up the track at L737 943 B on what was a very hot July day. This is a great track to gain height and warm up. I didn’t get the chance to warm up too much however as a kindly turf cutter trundled up on a curiously small tractor and told me to hop in the back. By this he didn’t mean jump in behind him – there wasn’t room. Instead I climbed into the miniature loader attached to the back of the tractor. I was just about able to stretch out comfortably sideways on top of his pile of empty turf bags and rain gear and off we set for a bouncy drive up the mountain! Purists might shout foul, but let me just say that we only went about 1km, and it was great craic! It saved me about 15 minutes on a 5 hour hike, and I learned more than a little about the effect of severe turbulence on photography!

I disembarked at L751 948 E where the farmer was heading NW to his turf plot. It was a straightforward ramble a couple of kilometres NE over short heather to the col between the two Corrauns. As I climbed up to Corraun East Top I was reminded of the Sheefry’s, as the relatively flat plateau was similarly topped by fields of shattered rock interspersed with short grass. There are amazing views of Clare Island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay, with its north facing 460 metre cliffs plunging from its summit. By walking a little further east and south from the summit of Corraun East Top the full glory of Clew Bay comes into view, with its myriad islands. Across Clew Bay Croagh Patrick takes centre stage, holding its head high above the long east-west ridge of which it is the dominant summit. Further away to the SW the flat topped Sheefry’s are easily identifiable. The summits of Achill are also easily visible, while Slieve Carr and Nephin Beg appear out of the heat haze to the NE.

It is important to point out that there appears to be a wasp’s nest INSIDE the summit cairn on Corraun East Top. I watched them buzzing around and crawling in and around the cairn for a while. It’s remarkable that they chose such a high and exposed location, but obviously the cairn provides the shelter they need while they ply their trade on the flowers of the abundant heather on the surrounding slopes. The walk west to Corraun brings more of that ‘Sheefry’ feeling, as it involves crossing a wide flat col of short grass and rock. There are dramatic valleys and cliffs on the north of the Corraun massif which can be appreciated as you look back at Corraun East Top while ascending Corraun. The circuit of the two Corrauns took me five hours, which seems to be an hour longer than that suggested by others, so my jaunt in the tractor wasn’t such an unfair advantage after all! I’d suggest this walk is kept until a fine day as it would be a shame to miss the fantastic views in all directions. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/372/comment/6490/