Brandon South Top is a mere notch on the main Brandon Ridge which is extremely unlikely to be climbed on its own and will be more usually visited as part of a walk taking in the ridge and a number of other summits, normally including Brandon itself, Brandon Peak and Gearhane, but possibly being extended north of Brandon as far as Masatiompan.

There are many routes onto the Brandon massif; the main starting points are, Ballybrack Q434 094 A at the bottom of the Saint's Road leading direct to Brandon and where there is a particularly large car park (often full), Ballyknockane Q434 126 B B, at the bottom of the Dingle Way which leads east from here to the col between Masatiompan and Piaras Mor, and Cloghane Q494120 C C, from where you have have the choice of a path into the coom northeast of Brandon summit, or a higher route over the Faha Ridge.

Once Brandon is reached, the South Top is but a step away along the ridge.

A number of routes from the south are also possible. For a great (and long) day out which would necessitate a second car (or a tent), you could start at the Connor Pass, taking in a number of other summits, Beendubh, Beennabrack, Ballysitteragh Gearhane and Brandon Peak, before reaching the South Top. A further start could be made from Ballinloghig, from around Q425 077 D D, though parking could be difficult, over spot height 404 and onto the ridge at Gearhane. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/4809/

Lough Nalacken as seen from Brandon Mtn South Top .
Cloghane is at the end of the inlet with the grotto at Faha under the start of the ridge on the left side of the photo. A trail marked with yellow arrows pointed the way in June 2004 to the climb up Mount Brandon from Loch Chom an Chnoic. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/1102/

Approaching from the north, this is a doddle. But 15m prominence it may have, yet when you approach from the south the mountain is a pretty steep order, in every sense. Having dropped down from Brandon Peak to the col at Q470 104 E, you then have a 100m ascent to the summit in a NNW direction - it is very steep in parts. The scenery is stunning all round, and that serves as a pleasant distraction. The top is quite well defined. If you are returning to the south, it is not necessary to go back across Brandon Peak. Instead pick up a narrow, but well-defined track near the above grid ref, which skirts most of Brandon Peak and rises gently up to 760m, before it disappears just shy of Gearhane summit. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/18531/

The uninitiated can be forgiven for mistaking the south top for the main top on the initial approach to Brandon from Faha Grotto along the pilgrim path. As the path snakes around the Faha ridge, the south top is on the walker's left as they approach the head of the coum from where the "eisc" ferries the walker to the ridge line.

This picture was taken on the return. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/23488/

BrandonMountain South Top in the foreground on the extreme left as seen coming down the ridge from Mount Brandon going towards Brandon Peak. The Mountains of Central Dingle are in the background Stradbally Mountain,Beenoskee,An Com Ban, Binn an Tuair Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/1101/

A view of the cliffs to the south of Brandon South Top Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/49/comment/17957/