ACCESS TO CLOHERNAGH FROM GLENMALURE.......Glenmalure is reputed to be the longest glaciated valley in the these islands. Bounded by steep symmetrical slopes, its narrow floor is flat, verdant and well farmed. As I am shortly to lead a group to Lugnaquillia via Clohernagh (leaving Fraughan Rock Glen for the descent) I became concerned that there might be access issues in the valley. My fears were based on rumours and my common sense observation that there were farms between the valley road and Clohernagh. Last Saturday (May 14th 05) I discovered that the Bridge at T 079 929 A leads to a forest road that brings the walker most of the way to Art's Lough. The route has a most public air about it. All doubt was removed when I found a 1998 notice on the MCI website..."Access in Glenmalure. Following discussions with the landowners in Glenmalure, it has been agreed to erect a number of signs at the popular starting points for walkers in the Glen." There was such a sign near the bridge: I didn't notice them elsewhere. Clohernagh is awesome, not at the top, where you could land a Cessna without difficulty, but in the Art's Lough area ( a corrie I would geuss). The existence of a barbed wire fence near the lake takes from the sense of magnificent wilderness, but ,presumably,supports someone's livelihood. On the descent from Lug through the Fraughan Rock Glen about 9pm I saw the last sunbeams illuminate the higher slopes of Clohernagh. It was inspiring and memorable. The F.Rock Glen has the air of a "hanging valley". Must have been a busy place when the ice was moving all those years ago. Please note the attached photo was doctored to show an image of the forest track for illustration purposes only. In fact you cant see the lane from the valley road at all ! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/1697/

As the Glenmalur road was blocked by forest work, I parked my car in a medium place on the left of the road at (IT 07941 92863 B). From this point take the way which passes by the bridge. After several turns, take the path on your left marked by a small cairn (IT 06902 93093 C). Follow the path and the fences. Arrived on a platform, cross the barrier towards a small lake (approximately in a north direction) then take a natural slope by which the path passes. Just go up and you'll reach the Cloghernag summit.
I saw more than 20 roe deers during this walk.
Coordinates defined with the Irish grid and measured on a GPS. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/1724/

Sat 09/08/08 we struck off from the roadside directly opposite Carrawaystick waterfall. Passing beneath the waterfall we followed the zig zag path to the top of the initial steep section. We then left the path and headed southwest to hit the bank of the Carrawaystick brook. Followed this to Kelly's lough and continued straight up the back of the valley onto the Cloghernagh ridge (quite a long stretch with messy ground a lot of the way). From here we strolled the rest of the way to Lug summit and then dropped the length of the Cloghernagh ridge to the zig zag path and back to the car. A good walk but i'd imagine better approaches to Kelly's lough! Between 4 and 5 hours. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/3270/

This was the last top in a Corrigasleggaun-Lugnaquilla-Slievemaan-Cloghernagh loop taking me back to Glenmalure in a walk that took almost 7 hours (see entries for Corrigasleggaun and Lugnaquilla for route etc). Although officially of only 15m prominence the long gentle slope from the col at T 0530 0920 D seemed to suggest more prominence (my GPS was out of batteries so I couldn't measure it). Anyway the top is broad and marked by a cairn, but provides great views down over Kelly's Lough and down into the Glenmalure valley. Descended to the east and eventually picked up a badly eroded track running directly south which ultimately joined up with the zig zag track that starts at Carrawaystick Bridge. On the descent, an autumnal sun lit up the tree-lined slopes of the valley quite majestically. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/14866/

As I descended the ridge from Lug to Cloghernagh, I was looking for a way to find the 'ramp' described by others as necessary to get to Art's Lough. As described, there is a faint path breaking off to the left about 500m down the main easterly path from the peak, but also someone has erected a small quartz cairn visible to the left as you descend and about 150m in. This provides confirmation of the safe route down but it is still worth mentioning that it is quite steep and demanding. Again, continuing on from the lough north down to the road in the glen, it is steep and muddy (after rain). The views of Glenmalure, Art's Lough, the cliffs below Benleagh and Fraughan Rock Glen make it more than worthwhile. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/17982/

Planned to climb and return from Clohernagh today but on reaching its summit the lure of Lug proved too strong and continued on to its summit.Parking at Ballinafinshogue wood and walking back the road to the start of the Zig Zags.It is possible to park here but all spaces were gone quiet early today.From the top of the Zig Zags where there is a mountain warning sign turn right and head on a westerly bearing following a well worn track over a stile to the summit marked by a small cairn.
The views up here are spectacular to say the least, from the cairn it's a westerly course to the ridge up to Lug before heading southwest to the trig point.Round trip to the car 16.6 km in a time of 4hrs 25 mins with a couple of food stops,ascent 907m,descent 893m. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/40/comment/18208/