Is it worth the risk?

Walked up Cuilcagh along the way marked route from the Cuilcagh Mountain Park car park on 31/08/2010. The day was good so I went on south to Benbeg where I found this new looking cairn, not mentioned previously. There were no other rocks around the summit.

I didn't examine it too closely in case I knocked it over and cursed my family or something. They have a hard enough time having a father who believes in fairies! I made a hasty retreat back to Cuilcagh and the carpark where I found my car had a puncture...
Is Benbeg now off limits because of mystical forces?

Suggestions please
(On the origins of the Cairn, not how to fix a puncture) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/378/comment/6081/

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gerrym on Benbeg

Approach for the start of this one is through the Bellavally Gap to reach the carpark at the scenic viewpoint of Altachullion (A (B (H137 241))). Walk uphill and take the first turn R along a minor road and then through a gate onto a forest track. A matter then of heading for the open hill on pretty good ground, among the sheep and newly born lambs. There are good views SW to the Iron mtns, which makes up for the non descript top of Benbeg itself. The payoff is when come to the forest reaching up the hillside and set eyes on the long sweeping ridge to the summit of Cuilcagh. The top of Benbeg is reached in an easy 40 mins - it has been "eaten away" and drops down into an area of extensive forest.
Keep to the edge of the slope and follow it as drops down and then rises along a well worn track, with stunning views ahead to the steep E nose of Cuilcagh. Pass a little lough with deep green waters below, some rocky outcrops and a final steeper pull to the level summit area of Cuilcaigh (1.5 hrs). Cracking views back along the ridge as it curves towards Benbeg, and another lough i missed from the top. There is a short walk to the large summit cairn and trig point, with views across to the Sligo Hills and the sea of brown of a N approach.
I dropped down from the cairn nearly due S, dropping steeply beside an area of cliffs and scree. Traversed along the base of the cliffs for a while and then headed S for the area of forest around the base of Benbeg. This was over mature heather with hidden holes which wasn't too pleasant. Soon reach an area of clearfell and a 35 min walk along the forest track and road to the carpark. Fantastic walk which didn't take that long and met no one else - try it if have only climbed Cuilcagh from the N. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/378/comment/2320/

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eflanaga on Benbeg

(Climbed March 28th) Started walk from Altachullion Viewpoint B (H137 241) in extremely wet and miserable conditions. Benbeg appeared relatively clear of cloud but Cuilcagh to the right and the Northern end of Benbrack Ridge (to the left) were heavily covered. After securing the car I returned the short distance to the R200 turning right and taking next lane to right. My intention was to follow the lane around and up to Commas Forest taking tracks through forest so as to emerge about 200m north-west of Benbeg summit. However, since I was late starting the walk and he weather was deteriorating I decided to take a more direct route detouring at first derelict building on the lane and bearing straight for the summit. Ground was fairly marshy given the recent heavy rain and prevailing wet conditions. Once through the ‘farmyard’ I veered right to a fence and bank when they come into view. This will take you to another fence within 400 metres of eastern cliff C (H122 255) which itself is only a short distance from summit. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the summit the mist had descended leaving only a view of the forest and a disused quarry below the cliff. Since I wanted to take in Benbrack as well and there was precious little to be seen, I didn’t delay. Taking a bearing of 243 degrees SW I descended the 1.65K to the R200 at D (H106 246). It was here I made a fundamental and cardinal mapping error which resulted in the loss of more than an hour on the Benbrack leg of the trek (See Benbrack for report). Pic taken at end of walk when weather had improved! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/378/comment/2336/

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mcna on Benbeg

Benbeg was our starting point for Cuilcagh and reached it through the village of Swanlinbar, taking the first right as you come into the village from Enniskillen direction. Drove past the view point fore mentioned and took the first minor road on the right (opposite a house) and parked up beside the derelict farm house down the road. Here we met the local farmer and had a great chat with him about routes, weather and the world in general – lovely man and very helpful! Walked on up the road and through the gate at the end – a few hundred metres up the road was another gate into the forest (well more like a tree graveyard as very few trees survived the clutches of the lumberjack!) We followed the track round and up hill to a stile that led up hill. This was difficult ground – steep, lots of small, deep streams and cut down trees and branches that had moss growing over them. This slowed us down but when we emerged from the trees we had a very short, steep walk to a flatter grass area. Beautiful views opened up and we were just beside the steep scree slope of Benbeg. From here on there is a light track. I would seriously recommend crossing the fence at this point as you would be teetering on the brink of the scree slope otherwise. Took us a few minutes to reach the summit which is undefined apart from a few stones (I counted 5) build up there - someone is trying to start a cairn I think! Sat down for a brew at this point and savoured the magnificent views to the south on a beautiful, clear afternoon – truly amazing scenery words can’t describe how fabulous it was to sit there in silence and see for 40 odd miles in front of you. If there was ever a reason to walk mountains this was it! And the best bit is it wasn’t even that difficult!! It took about an 1 hr 15 mins to this point. Again, as always I have difficulty picking just one picture – we continued on to Cuilcagh – see that report for the rest of the journey and the descent! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/378/comment/2715/

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Avoid The Peat Hag Hell

Approached from Cuilcagh (see comment for that mountain for first part of route), and the gloomy day meant I didn't see this area at its best. There was a wild feel to the place though, and on a good day, it looked like you could see for a huge distance down the midlands. The one thing I would recommend is, if coming from Cuilcagh, stay on the eastern side of the saddle, where although care is need in parts due to steep drops, you can avoid a hellishly torturous area of peat hags. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/378/comment/18323/

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