gerrym on Knockaffertagh

Walked as part of the Glenlar-Birreencorragh-Knockaffertagh horse shoe on 16.9.05. From the col with Birrencorragh's NE ridge head SE over varied terrain - stones, heather, peat hags and water pools. Climb to point 467 over boulders and exposed rock with the weather creating a contrasting view over the extensive lowlands to the N, with heavy shower clouds skirting Lough Conn while large areas of sunlight gave different shades of brown across the bogland. From here get yet another perspective on Birreencorragh, with steep and scree strewn slopes. Drop down again on easy ground with two big hills on either side - Nephin to the E and Birreencorragh to the W. There is a small cairn at the rocky summit, with another lesser top just off to the E. There are far reaching views, only blocked to the W by Birreencorragh. I descended off to the S towards the meandering river in the valley below and the forestry on the lower slopes of Glenlara. The drop is pretty steep with large areas of scree at the base - there are a number of crags on the S face which could cause difficulty if get caught up in them. The river is not too easy to cross and it was at a pretty low flow. This would make a brilliant camping spot, totally isolated with big hills closing in further up the valley. The ground on the other side is wet and it is a slog up to the forest boundary - follow uphill and then drop down through clearfell to the forest track where i had parked. Was pitch black by now so had to endure a restless and chilly night sleeping in the car as the possible tent pitches i had been keeping in mind went out the window. I did not see a soul on this walk and I would totally recommend it for big views, a good days walking and the isolation it has to offer. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/417/comment/1966/

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eflanaga on Knockaffertagh

From Birreencorragh's main summit follow the rocky spur north on a bearing of 6 degrees for 650m before turning NE on a bearing of 56 degrees for a further 658m which will bring you to a point were you can (safely) turn SE towards Spot Ht 487 and onwards to Knockaffertagh's summit. The going is easy for the first two of these stages but as mentioned below the final descent onto the col leading to Spot Ht 487 is deceptively steep. The ascent of Knockaffertagh is relatively easy. The summit is marked by a small cairn. Descending directly south from the summit my homeward route through Gortnaheltia forest was laid clearly before me with the various twists and turns planned on the map the previous night apparently and comfortingly right where they were supposed to be. I found it necessary (upon reaching the 200m contour) to veer east for some 500 metres as the ground became excessively steep - certainly more so than the map appears to suggest. Upon reaching the valley floor it is clear that a series of crags at or around the 200m contour mark the start of a fairly precipitous drop to the valley floor (see picture). Upon reaching the desired entrance to the forest ID (G04847 03101) followed the track over very soft ground for less than 100m turning right and proceeding across even softer ground for another 300m before track narrows then opens again and becomes solid. About 350m further on you reach a T-junction. From here it is about 2K to reach the lane and another 1k walk before turning west just short of Cloondaff to walk the final 1.2K back to the starting point. Please note however, that the OS map's interpretation of the track has a slight error (but one that can send you to a cul de sac adding an unnecessary 3k to your walk). Take a look at the map and follow the track starting about 450m to the east of Spot Ht 336m IE (G0396 0285)3. I actually joined this track at the t-junction mentioned above although map appears to show this as crossroad. The track continues downhill for another 300m or so to what appears on the map to be a staggered Xroad. In fact this is a straightforward Xroad. The track to the right quickly fizzles out while the track to the left appears to match the track as indicated on the map continuing straight for a few hundred metres before bending to the right. If you follow this you will end up at the cul de sac just below a treatment plant mentioned above!. Therefore, instead of turning left continue straight on - you will notice a small bridge about 150m ahead just as the track bends to the left.
Perhaps, (cognisant of map error) a better idea would be to leave a car, if permisable, at some point on the track above the offending Xroad (see csd's comment on Birrencorragh South Top) so that last 4.2k part of the walk can be avoided. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/417/comment/2857/

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csd on Knockaffertagh

Due to an unfortunate navigational error (see Birreencorragh entry), we were unable to gain the summit of Knockaffertagh. This picture shows the route we would have taken, the shoulder in the right foreground leads down from the summit of Birreencorragh, down to a col on the left before rising again to the summit of Knockaffertagh in the left middle-distance. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/417/comment/1256/

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csd on Knockaffertagh

This shot shows Knockaffertagh from the opposite (Glenlara) side of the valley, with Nephin brooding in the distance. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/417/comment/1257/

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A grand soft day

12/09/2010: JohnQ : walked to this top starting from bridge at Bogadoon river on R312 approx 15 miles from Castlebar ; taking Keenagh loop walk in anticlockwise direction while M& E did the loop in clockwise .After small quarry and initial climb left the loop heading up to rocky outcrop and then gradually climbing in westerly direction waiting for Birreencorragh to show . The ground is varied not too remarkable but fine views of Nephin behind to the east. A cairn marks the top , day started clear but gradually misted over and this made Bireencorragh top not visible - but it looks a real 'jag' of a mountain - sorry no pics - headed back due south which turned out to be a good bit steeper than expected - when back from under the mist fine views of valley floor M& E having the brew at lone tree on bank of river that meanders through Glendorragha valley
Rejoined on the loop walk- more coffee- great day out - we''ll be back !! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/417/comment/6093/

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