Looking down on the lesser known Wicklow Gap from the northern end of the top of Annagh. Croghan Mountain is to the left. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/609/comment/6354/

It doesn't seem possible to gain access to Annagh Hill from the east: numerous houses and their large gardens block your way. Instead, I tried an approach from the southwest. Parking at the start of the forest track at T07940 66897 B (where there's plenty of space), I followed the track to the edge of the forest. It was then a simple matter of handrailing the forest all the way to the summit. The steep slopes give it an almost ridge-like aspect.
I was pleasantly surprised by the views from the top on what was a beautiful day. The whole sweep from Lug to the north to Mount Leinster in the south was visible: not bad for a hill of only 454 metres. Recommended. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/609/comment/3068/

From the east the summit of Annagh is just 1km from the road, but it's steep and I'm a lazy sod so I opted for the gentler approach from T07940 66897 B, which requires about 2.5k's walking up a much gentler incline. I followed the track to its natural end (it becomes very narrow after about 1km) then took off up through a bit of a gap in the trees. After a few minutes I encountered a wall climbing up the hill in a NNW direction and followed this for about 10 minutes up to a good track that runs along the ridge and goes all the way to the top. There are some smallish boulders near the summit and I believe the presence of a small Catholic shrine facing them suggests they were a mass rock back in penal times. But the highest point is a grassy mound a few metres to the east surmounted by a small pile of rocks. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/609/comment/20802/

A view of the harlequin Annagh Hill from Slievefoore taken in 2009. In early 2010 the trees on the right were being harvested. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/609/comment/3753/

One handy way up Annagh Hill is from the NE from near Clonroe Cross Roads at around T11056875 A where there is a modern dilapidated gate and boggy track leading to a small flattened space. This is all in sight of the steepish but very climbable northern side of the hill with its forest boundary running towards the SW. As of 2010 the trees certainly on the lower slopes of Annagh Hill are being harvested so the Harlequin Annagh will become the Piebald Annagh. This route on Annagh is useful if you are planning to walk Annagh and then Croghan Kinsella since it neatly connects the two.
After climbing the slope you will cross a wall and come to a fairly flattish ridge with views to the coast including Tara Hill and views, where the trees aren't too high, towards the southern Wicklows such as Lugnaquiilia.

The old gate in the wall at the top of the northern slope, shown below, hints of a history of the land and serves to divide the flattish ridge from the steepness down towards the local area, Ballythomas. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/609/comment/4578/