Source of the Blackwater

From the east side of Baraveha, the mountain is easily climbed using the Blackwater loop walk. The trailhead is signposted from the R578 Ballydesmond to Newmarket road, just outside Ballydesmond. Follow the signposts to a forest entrance on the right at A (R1197 0677), where there is plenty of parking and a map board. This point can also be reached from Coardal, near Castleisland. Check out the mapboard, note the colour of the markers for the Blackwater loop and follow the markers along a gently rising forest track for a couple of kilometres up to a little boggy valley from which the mighty River Blackwater springs (B (R1248 0906)). Might I remind any Cork or Waterford people who claim this river as their own, that it rises in neither county, but in Kerry (like many great things!).

Once you've paid your respects to the river, clamber up the bank to your left and trudge along the boggy ridge to the summit. There's likely to be a good view from here, judging by the view from the nearby Castleisland to Abbeyfeale road, but it was all too hazy and misty when I was up there. Retrace your steps back to the source of the Blackwater and either follow the loop walk back around (about another 8km), or head back down the way you came. Thee loop is pleasant enough, but be warned that the route lower down can flood quite badly. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/621/comment/4621/

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madfrankie on Baraveha

The village of Cordal is probably a good reference point for the three western hills in the sprawling Maullaghareirks. From the village continue southeast, and having crossed a hill, take your first left (north). There are two lefts in close proximity - take the first one.
This minor road becomes an uneven track (bad for low-slung cars, like ours) and terminates at a gate (C (R1080 0815)).
We crossed the gate and followed the track for a short distance, and once past some trees we climbed right, up a cattle-rutted hillside (bovine-free, thankfully). The broad eastern ridge is quickly gained, and it's a straightforward but bleak walk to the summit, curiously marked with a single iron rod stuck in the ground.
Looking NW to Mount Eagle, you could envisage a longer walk linking Ballinard to Mount Eagle to Barraveha, notwithstanding the glut of forestry in the area.
We descended south, down awkward slopes of high grass that caused a few tumbles enroute. Back at the car in less than an hour. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/621/comment/4061/

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Windfarm or way marked trail?

Started at the forest entrance as mentioned by scapania. It's worth mentioning that the area is now a windfarm so I'm not sure on what the story with access is as it is still an official way marked trail but there was a notice stating that the trail is currently closed!. We followed a forest road for about two kilometres before heading off onto the open mountain in a North West direction for about 500 metres. The ground here is deep spongy heather and makes for very tough going. The summit is very unremarkable and marked with a white plastic pole. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/621/comment/20543/

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