Have battled my way through forest for 15 minutes, I knew I was close to the top, but spend a further 10 minutes wandering around trying to pinpoint the exact top using my GPS. Future baggers should note that much of the forest has recently been harvested to the south and east so the landscape is somewhat different than experienced by previous contributors. Finally I emerged into bright sunlight to the south of the woods and the sound of my GPS's bleep was met with much relief. Right beside the spot is a tree marked with an 'X' - although I don't know if someone did this to indicate that this was the summit, of it was some tree-felling indicator, but at least for the moment, when you see the 'X' you know you're there! Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/516/comment/20526/

Although this hill is forested and unremarkable, the journey to it is very rewarding offering great views of Lough Tay and part of Lough Dan, nestling amid the rolling hills. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/516/comment/20527/

On 29 May 2012 I parked to the side of the forest road, also signed for the Wicklow Way, at O 1732706289 D just S of the Pier Gates. Before climbing Ballinafunshoge I climbed Sleamaine en route. On coming back down from Sleamaine at O 1740205653 E some 700m from the start point for the walk I turned right (S) and continued on the Wicklow Way for a further 2k in search of a forest ride to the right that would give me "easy" access to the top. This was at O 1688303919 F where a clear but deeply rutted track should have led up NW for some 450m to the top, or so it seemed from the map (East-West Mapping Wicklow Mt West 1:30,000 ). This showed the high point on or just off the ride to the left side. As I made my way up the track was wide and clear of any obstacles to progress. Only a few minutes to the top and the end of a most enjoyable day in the Wicklow Mts. Then things began to go pear shaped. When I came to the first fallen or felled tree across the path I thought it would be a simple matter of walking around it to get back on course. Not so, obstruction followed obstruction requiring me to abandon the track and try and walk or crawl along side it through the trees. Going to say the least was difficult. Evenually I got back to the track at it's high point just before it started to descend. what appeared to be a clear way down. But was this the topG The GPS reading based on the mv Grid Ref indicated that I was still some 30/40 metres from the top and that it lay somewhere in the mire of tangled forestry. Against my better judgement I went in search of the "true" top and, after a difficult ten minutes or so foraging in and out the dense thicket of fallen/felled trees and shrubs, my reading had me within one or two metres of the mv Grid. Ref O 1655104203 G! Job done, head for home!! Walking back along the Wicklow Way, reflecting on this particular experience I had to ask the question, was this climb of Ballinafunshoge what hillwalking is really all about ? Very definitely for me the answer must be a resounding NO!! While hillwalking for me is about challenge it is also about enjoyment, this latter aspect was clearly lacking in my walk up Ballinafunshoge. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/516/comment/6840/

Approached from Sleamaine crossing over top of Cloghoge Valley Track IO16603 04672 H but continuing on up grassy track keeping forest & fence to the left. The southern end of the East-West ride which crosses the summit exits the forest along this fence at IO16382 04320 I. There is a hole in the fence a few metres before the ride which is possible to crawl through. 5 minutes and the odd duck and crouch to avoid low branches and fallen trees will take you to the summit. A quick retrace of your steps will bring you back to the fence and out onto the open hillside. My next target was to be Cnoc Na Cloghoge on the other side of the valley but while descending the Cloghoge track which I had returned to, I noticed a track of sorts to my left running east in the direction of Kanturk. I decided to see where it might lead. While a diversion it may be off interest to some. There appears to be the ruins of a number of old stone houses/buildings (settlement?) at IO15838 04492 J. In the wonderful sunshine and with trees interspersed between them these ruins had a rustic beauty. Just beyond this the track runs into a green leafy glade before a switchback at IO15516 04360 K and a short drop before joining the main Cloghoge Track just above a gate which is a private entrance to one of Lough Dan's sandy beaches. Before, taking the aforementioned switchback I carried on for about a hundred metres eastwards passing through a green gate while maintaining height to reach a vantage point above Lough Dan which affords great views of the lough, the beach, Kanturk and Scar. On joining the main Cloghoge track I was sorely tempted to ignore the Private signs on the gate so as to gain access to Cnoc Na Cloghoge within a few minutes. However, I resisted the temptation and made my way back to the Pier Gates, where I replenished my water supply before starting out again to scale Cnoc Na Cloghoge & Luggala. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/516/comment/3809/

The summit of Ballinafunshogue is in the middle of a forest. Conveniently, a ride running East-West makes access from the Wicklow Way fairly straightforward. Just don't expect great views from the top! Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/516/comment/2772/