So what if you were to contour round to the South Top (from Priest's Leap Gap) and then ascend to Knockboy at 702m ? You would descend to the little lake, which lies at just under 500m, and then ascend 200m or so to the main peak at 702m. The interesting thing is that Knockboy presents as being no more than a 200m summit when viewed from the South Top. Quite a tame view of a mountain that is just over 700m high. I took the attached photo of Knockboy from the South Top. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/389/comment/18335/

There are summits that would hardly ever be pursued if they did not appear on a certain mountain list and, as John Desmond noted in 2006, Knockboy South Top probably falls into this category. My own experience of the mountain, at the end of a long and arduous day, was so unexpectedly enjoyable, that it reinforced my belief that it can often be the much derided mavericks on a list that can “wow” the walker, rather than their more celebrated neighbours

Yes, the target is a mere “rim” preventing Curramore Lough from spilling downhill: you wouldn’t call it a mountain had someone not gone to the trouble of checking its credentials in advance. My slow and careful descent off the main top took place in bright autumn sunshine, highlighting the magnificent Cork landscape and Bantry Bay, and the closer I got to the lake at the foot of South Top, the more I realised that this would be not just a treat but a really rewarding one.

I thought that I would have to stay way wide of the lake on the eastern side to avoid a swamp, but as I got nearer I found that (despite very heavy rain earlier this mid September) the conditions underfoot were fine. As I passed within metres of the lake its deep blue was splashed with autumn sunshine and I couldn’t help but think of the Dolce and Gabbana couple cavorting on a Mediterranean shore to the heavenly strains of Parlami d'amore, Mariù! (I now ask the serious reader to use YouTube to experience the music of Giuseppe di Stefano while reading this piece.)

Getting from the lake to the summit takes but a few minutes. In fact the biggest challenge is a very well-constructed barbed wire fence. That fence stops just short of the lake at a place that looks dangerously swampy so you are better off staying on your own side until you find a low spot with stones on either side. I would say that many a marriage prospect and remarriage prospect has been left hanging on that fence so proceed with caution. Here you are on the summit of South Top divided from the mother mountain by a dazzling lake, and to the east and south the special mountain landscape of West Cork and the awesome spectacle of Bantry Bay.

I managed to walk most of the way back to Priest’s leap Gap on a contour that avoided any real ascent or descent, and the first part of that trek was often on exposed flat rocks saving my creaking ankles from trauma. The sheep have pioneered the route and done their work well. The constant presence of Bantry Bay to the south offered a D&G perfume to my wandering soul that transcended the sheep droppings underfoot and left me at peace with myself and the world. Come sei bella!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzW_RQtVeM0 Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/389/comment/18315/

Contouring back to Priest's Leap Gap from Knockboy South Top requires some concentration as the terrain, as you approach the gap, is hazardous. I found it difficult to stop turning around to have another look at Bantry Bay framed by the lovely valley. This is heady stuff. Several hours earlier, as I arrived at the gap from the south I saw a zany red van parked precariously by the side of the road with an elevated roof and padded tinfoil insulating the windows. When my day's work was done, I stood in the eye of the gap ,and the little red van sailed by. The occupants were a most beautiful young couple. They beamed with happiness. I felt momentarily like an interloper between the chiming of the exquisite scenery and the radiance of the archetypal pair. I was very glad for them. Of course everything passes. Not just the young couple but the valley and the mountains themselves. How can things that have ever existed cease to exist? If things exist at all must they not continue to exist in some dimension that is beyond us? A good day in the mountains allows the walker to dwell on such dilemmas Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/389/comment/18319/

This summit is more like just a piece of high ground rather than a true summit. The top is is very flat with 2 possible tops about 300 metres apart although I think that the 532m point on the OS map is probably the correct one. As you can see from the OS map, the summit is only 2 metres above the 530m contour yet this contour covers a large area. From what I remember, the whole area was just a mixture of exposed rock, boggy ground and some small ponds, too small to be shown on a map. If anyone was interest in doing it, it might be best included as a short walk up to Knockboy. Park at 'Priests Leap' and head towards Knockboy. At the small plateau at about 540m, veer off right towards Curramore. After the 'summit', go around Lough Curramore and head up to Knockboy. Overall, the only reason for going here is to do one of the 500 metre plus peaks. There are other longer routes up around Knockboy that offer nicer views. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/389/comment/2293/