padodes on Brockagh Mountain SE Top

Brocagh SE doesn’t seem to attract much attention. Like the last vertebra in a spine that has Tonelagee as its head, it’s at the tapering end of things and is easily passed over in the hurry to get elsewhere. That’s a pity, though. Both from the top and from its flanks, north and south, it provides some surprisingly good panoramas. From Scarr to the north (its pointed crest visible in the photo, framed by two of the big boulders that lie strewn across the top of Brocagh SE), westwards to Tonelagee, Camaderry, Derrybawn, and southwards to Trooperstown Hill, there are some excellent mountain views, but it’s the valleys that really rivet the attention. Curving out into Glenmacnass, Brocagh SE has a unique grandstand view of the whole valley up to the waterfall and beyond. And if one drops down to the southeast, it is Glendalough that comes into view, with its monastic site, the two lakes and the brooding Spink. The climb to Brocagh SE (D (T125 985)) can easily be included in a number of good circuits, but it can also be approached directly from the southeast, following the Wicklow Way upwards from E (T141 973) (there’s parking a short distance north of this point) and gaining access to the uplands at any one of several points along the highest forest trail; or approached from the south, starting at the forest entrance at F (T119 973) (limited parking) and making one’s way to a gate at G (T121 977) that leads onto the open hillside. The best map for this whole area is not the OSI 1:50,000, which is incomplete as far as forest trails are concerned. The best, I find, is Pat Healey’s ‘Glendalough Glenmalur’ 1:25,000, which is more up-to-date and accurate in this regard. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/552/comment/3033/

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Small Heath on Brockagh SE

Well the sun shone for at least one day over the Bank Holiday weekend and it wasn't just the hillwalkers and tourists that were out and about near Laragh! Making my way up from the Wicklow Way and into a field beside a forest enroute for Brockach Mtn SE top I came across a colony of Small Heath butterflies who were sunning themselves on the pathway. The guidebook says they enjoy drier heathland than there larger variety which was just as well as I prostrated myself on the ground to try and photograph them! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/552/comment/6849/

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wicklore on Brockagh Mountain SE Top

The Wicklow Way has been slightly diverted and now enters the forest at H (T13966 98190) at the parking space referred to by Padodes. I followed the Way for a while until I reached a forest track crossroads. I went straight through and after 7 minutes came to another forest junction at I (T134 191) 98044. I turned right here and followed it for 10 minutes, walking along a forest and grassy track, until it ended at a T-junction. (J (T12947 98613)). I turned left and quickly went through another junction. I went through a gate and reached a No Hunting sign at K (T12856 98553). I followed a track which headed up along the northern slope of Brockagh SE. Eventually I simply turned left off the track and easily made my way up through high heather and ferns to the summit. Hat and gloves were quickly donned as a stiff cold breeze caught me by surprise. Memories of Wicklow in the depths of cold winter were stirred up. The views of all the mountains mentioned by padodes were great. I was disappointed that those stalwart navigational aids, Great Sugarloaf and Croghan Moira were not visible from this summit. Brockagh SE provides great alternative views of Scarr, Tonelagee and Camaderry. I headed over to L (T12454 98798) for great views down into Glendalough and the Round Tower, with Derrybawn looming over and the Lugduffs and Mullacor providing a further backdrop. I headed SE along the broad ridge from Brockagh SE and eventually dropped down to rejoin my original path. Total time 2 hours, and well worth it for those new views. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/552/comment/3368/

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A small hill but well worth the visit

Brockagh Mountain SE Top was the last top in a round on 10 May 2010 which had started at the Glenmacnass Car Park and had included Tonelagee NE Top and Brockagh Mountain. (see my comments on both for earlier part of the walk). The path down from Brockagh Mountain to Brockagh Mountain SE Top is well defined and easily followed. However as it reaches Brockagh SE Top it continues around the SW side of the hill and does not actually go to the top. For this reason look out for a path running from right to left across the base and go to a small track at M (T12159 98590) which leads straight to the top. Once there this is a place to sit and enjoy the general ambience of a beautiful location. The superb pictures already posted on the site by others highlight many of the delights that await those who take the trouble to climb it. Once back down to M (T12159 98590) I followed the rough path to the right until it reached a fence at the edge of the forest N (T11914 99209). Once across the fence the path continued down a short distance to meet a good forest road where I turned right and followed it along to a point where it swung left O (T12187 99251). I followed this track NW downhill for over 1k to a large turning circle and a cleared area of forest P (O12008 00309). From here I descended diagonally down across a short tract of forest cuttings and other wooden debris to the fields adjoining the R115. Once there I followed the line of the Glenmacnass River NNW to a wooden bridge Q (O12098 00782) and then out to the road. I finished with a walk of just over 2km uphill past the Glenmacnass Waterfall to the Car Park from where I had started my round. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/552/comment/4734/

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padodes on Brockagh Mountain SE Top

Descending further southeast of Brocagh SE, there is a great perspective on Glendalough. In searching for the perfect photographic angle, the abundant gorse, in all its flaming glory at this time of year, can be quite a thorny problem! In the foreground is the interpretative centre, and to the right of that the monastic site, with the round tower just visible above the trees. Beyond the Lower and Upper Lakes the arching Spink provides an imposing backdrop. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/552/comment/3036/

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