Harry Goodman on Barnes Top

I climbed Barnes Top on 23 March 2010 as part of a round that included Mullaghash and Knockanbane Mountain (see also my comments on Mullaghash and Knockanbane Mt. for the start and finishof the route). After Mullaghash we climbed up from the coll below Barnes Top C (C642 011) along the fence going S with a touch of E. (For someone wishing to only climb Barnes Top I suggest that the route mentioned at the end of my comments on Mullaghash is used in reverse. ) The going was mostly over heather and tusocky clumps of grass for 1.2k to a fence junction near the top. On the way up we were surprised to find quite a large patch of snow still lingering on the hillside. Once at the fence junction a right and shortly after a left turn took us to the summit D (H638 999). As ever one could speculate as to whether or not this was really the top or was it a clump of heather across the fence or elsewhere on the flat but bumpy summit area. From Barnes Top the view N to Mullaghash shows it to be a much more imposing hill than its modest height suggests. From the top we followed the fence NW for about 800 metres with only a shallow dip and climb up to the top of Knockanbane Mt. I enjoyed climbing this hill as part of a round including two other tops but would suggest that it is unlikely to be climbed by many walkers, even peak baggers, for its own sake. The view of Sawel SW across the valley dominates the skyline . Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/601/comment/4557/

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thisbliss on Barnes Top

Started off at Glashagh Bridge (E (H636 990)) Going is fair enough, a few sheughs to negotiate here and there on the way up but sheep have vegatation well kept down for most part until you reach the heathered top and the road disappears from behind. Then its not too far to summit marked naturally by a piece of raised bog. Good view of sawel and surrounding central sperrins with benbradagh to the north and derryveagh mountains to northwest. Is a pleasant enough climb taking less than an hour for the round trip. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/601/comment/2831/

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pquinn572 on Barnes Top

I climbed Barnes Top yesterday, Saturday the 19th of December. I did so in the company of the West Tyrone Ramblers as we climbed high into the Sperrins on a cold winters morning. We started the walk 3 miles outside Park on the road to Feeny (B44) at an old public house, Labelled on OS map. It is 300m up the road from Ballydonegan sweat house which is signposted. We parked here and headed down the road to the small cottage and the signpost for the sweat house. We followed a lane around the right hand side of the house and then turned left on another lane leading down to a river. There is a wooden bridge crossing the river which leads to the sweat house however do not cross it but continue up the lane. After 500m or so you pass some outbuildings on your right, rounding a gate you continue on the track which gradually begins to turn to the left. Then you come to a river, cross it and continue on the path up the hill. You then cross the river again before reaching an iron gate, go through it and continue along the path. Here the path is quite cut up and wet so walking on the bank is the best. You then reach another gate, this time a wooden one go through it, then continue. At this stage the path begins to peter out. At this stage you will notice something sticking up high on the mountain on your right. It appears like a standing stone but is infact a tree. You then begin the climb up the heather to this tree and on up past it until you reach a fence. By this stage you will be ready for a break as the climb up the heather is tiresome. Here you can enjoy great views of Sawel and the surroundings Sperrins. This however is not the true top so you follow the fence line across to the east (watch out for the pools) to reach the top of Barnes Top. There is nothing marking the top of the mountain however a raised piece of appears to be the highest point. I descended via the same route. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/601/comment/4310/

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