Colin Murphy on Tawny Rower

My last stop on the Glenlaur Horseshoe, starting and ending at B (L915 693), nabbing 4 tops. Approach from Tievnabinnia East Top one crosses the Western Way at the col, from which its a relatively easy 80m ascent to the top, which has great views of Croagh Patrick, weather permitting. Rejoined the western way and headed directly south down the valley to rejoin my car after a tiring but rewarding 6 hour, 15 km trip. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/432/comment/4073/

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madfrankie on Tawny Rower

Tawny Rower looks ruggedly impressive from the village of Drummin, but becomes more mundane when viewed from the start of the walk, just south of Sheefry Bridge where the Western Way crosses the road (room for 1 car).
Proceeding as per Gerrym's description (which just manages to squeeze onto OS map 37) got up to the summit plateau which could provide bafflement and uncertainty in mist. A ridge at the northern end is where you'll find the small pile of stones denoting the highest point.
Fab views including Partrys, Mweelrea and Croagh Patrick to name but a few. Descended west, crossing a minor summit to the col with Tievnabinnia East. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/432/comment/1933/

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Ascending from Tawnyard.

I parked at a forest entrance above Tawnyard Lough in Glenummera (C (L912 678)). If intending to do a traverse of the Sheefry Hills east to west this is a short road walk to the start of the climb of Tawny Rower and a 4 mile walk from the descent of Clashcarne at the western end of the Sheefrys.

From the forest entrance follow the road uphill for a short distance before a winding drop down towards Sheefry Bridge. Turn left to follow a very rough track signposted for the Western Way [ note, this route for the WW appears to have been changed in 2012 ] along the bank of the Glenlaur River. Cross the river where the first stream joins on the opposite bank and follow this stream steadily uphill, as the ground levels out stay on the right side as ground is very wet.

Nice views west up into Glenlaur Valley with Tievnabinnia at its head as follow the stream towards the col of Tawny Rower and Tievnabinnia East. Short steeper section as climb to summit area which is quite extensive. The summit is a little rise just above a pool of water and marked by a small cairn with a white stone.

The hill is not much in itself but there are fantastic views - north dominated by Croagh Patrick with Nephin visible behind, south the Partry Mountains are in full view as is Ben Gorm and west Tievnabinnia East dominates with Lough Lugacolliwee below (see Pic). From the top walk west over a minor rise and a short drop down to the col with Tievnabinnia East (see for continuation of traverse). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/432/comment/1108/

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Western way rerouted East of Sheeffry's

Climbed from Tievnabinnia East on 30th June 2012, dodging Atlantic squalls and glimpsing delicious views of the absolutely stupendous 360 degree panorama.
A word of warning to those using the alternative Western Way (dotted red line on OS 37) from the South to access or exit this top, there has been a re-routing of the WW as follows.
We came down the WW following lovely new marker posts south as far as approx D (L912 699). There the map (OS 37) shows the WW continuing south to meet the Glenlaur river, however we discovered the route is now way-marked as turning East South East to meet a stone wall (faintly marked on OS map), It follows thjs stone wall then at it's end, crosses a fence to bring the walker South across a little field to a gate at TCrower (L920 697) (right on the map's edge). You are now on the the road 200m East of Sheeffry Bridge, but the marker post here for the WW confusingly points both ways along the road, this appears to be because the main WW route (dashed red line on the OS 37) follows this road.
Anyway the upshot is that is you are using the alternative route be careful not to follow the map but use the directions above. It appears that this diversion has been made to avoid a farm, and hence enclosed fields, and it also removes the need to ford the Glenlaur river at E (L912 693). I can't imagine how this river would be easily crossed in wet weather as it is fast, and carries a lot of water after wet weather such as we've had lately.
By the way this top is worth making if you are doing the Sheefry ridge, don't leave it out! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/432/comment/14703/

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