"Usnea Articulata" in Glencar !!!

We decided to trace the source of Glencar Waterfall. Parking at the tourist car park we followed the left footpath to the waterfall , and then went offroad at the old stone steps half way bank. This led us to the forest running on the west side of the stream/ waterfall. This is easy follow , with old walk ways and paths / roads most of the way. Forest is quite steep , so leave this for a dry day. We eventually crossed an old bridge half way up , which brought us to the east side of the stream , and then upwards through very steep braodleaf forest to an old walkway to Formoyle Hill 343m. We discovered the source of the waterfall, and an unusual tree covered in a rare Lichen called "Usnea Articulata" at the foot of Formoyle ridge. normal Grid Ref = A (G765 438)
10 digit Grid Ref = B (G76535 43841) , Latitude = 54.34264 (north) , Longitude = -8.36084 (west)
Latitude = 54°20'34" (north) , Longitude = 8°21'39" (west) , Tetrad = G74R.
Amazing find, and serious view of Kings, Copes and the lake below. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/573/comment/6334/

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gerrym on Kings Mountain

A great way to reach Kings Mountain is via the heights above Glencar Lough. Parking next to the lough at a small carpark (C (G758 437)) a short walk brings a road heading steeply uphill ( Glencar (G757 436)) through forest. This corkscrews it way up 200m above the lough in the small space between the lough and cliffs and offers tantalising glimpses of the water further and further below. The track enters open hillside and offers views along the 6km of hills to Kings Mtn and across to the Castelgal hills on the other side of Glencar.

There follows a fantastic walk high above the wide valley below. As the track peters out take to the moorland and basically follow the edge for the next 6km - simple as that? Not quite - it is much more exciting! The immediate views are great but a wider vista across Sligo Bay to the Ox Mtns and the higher Nephin Begs soon appears. Truskmore is visible across a sea of bog to the N. There are a number of excursions inland to circle the river valleys coming down from the plateau. This may seem tedious but they offer opportunities to further explore - the remains of old mining operations, the deep fissures in the limestone, dry riverbeds as the water uses other means to escape to the land below, small caves, waterfalls, cliffs and all the while the views mentioned earlier - what is that song that us older men would probably know - 'heaven is aplace on earth'.

Eventually arrive at the ending of the hills have been looking towards only to find that it not in fact Kings Mtn (but an unnamed point at 436m (D (G711 439)). There is a steep drop and reascent through Kings Gulley to the object of desire - passing the track and another dry riverbed. The summit is impressively rocky as the pic shows. Views stretch along the entirity of Glencar with the Briefne hills beyond to the E; to the S sligo city was laid out, backed by Lough Gill and low rugged hills; further S Mayo stretched out into the Atlantic with its big hills prominent and the top of Slievmore on Achill just getting a look in; to the W the next object of desire reared up from the smoothness of the Atlantic Benbulbin looking very shapely (how easily we men are enticed by all things pretty). 10.5 km and 3 hrs of walking with only my shadow for company (and of course those shapely objects of desire!) Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/573/comment/3226/

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A Chasm fit for Kings

There is a superb feature to be explored near King's Mountain, just 700m SE of it in fact, across the Kings Gully. Technically this is on a spur of Slievemore rather than King's Mountain. The feature is a long (300m+) SE split in the rock which you can walk down at around E (G7083 4368). In itself this is really extraordinary, with two parallel walls each with near horizontal bedding planes, covered in places with vegetation. It's hard to think of anywhere else on the island with a feature like this.
After about 125m you come to a place where the ground drops quickly perhaps 15 or 20m.
From then on it is strictly climbing country - do not attempt without climbing experience and gear. If you do have the gear for abseiling there is a series of serious spikes driven into the rock at this point to assist you. There is only one such really steep piece so if you can't go down this cliff you can get to the bottom of it from the other end of the split in the rock.
Eventually after a number of further climbs and descents the split ends and you emerge on the hillside, altogether about 300m SE of the start.
This feature is well worth exploring whether or not you are equipped to do the abseil.
Incidentally, and quite separate from this feature, there is another example of hollowed out limestone in the form of a hidden way up to the summit area of Kings Mountain. It starts at around F (G70519 43992) and emerges 65M west about a quarter of a kilometer SE of the top. It has one place that requires serious scrambling but not ropes. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/573/comment/5914/

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Snowy Ridge

I visited the Kings Mountain last week in snow. Drove to forest entrance just before Glencar waterfall , and walked up through forest until I met the ridge. Then I walked along ridge for about 5 mins max , what a view ! Sorry for poor light , my colleague took photo about 3.30pm.
Snow was knee deep at ridge , not fun .... took about 40 mins to reach photo area from road side. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/573/comment/6180/

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simon3 on Kings Mountain

A great vantage point for taking pictures of Kings Mountain is from nearby Copes Mtn (just 5 clicks away). In this December picture, the low angle and reddish sun brings out the colour. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/573/comment/4302/

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