jackill on Slieveanard NE Top

This is a mountain with a view and a purpose, to see off the Galtys in style.
A good track up from the old hostel site at Ballydavid starting at the forestry entrance KilMoy Brn (S01816 27948) and follow your nose to A (S02055 26681), turn right and on to B (S01141 26901), cross up through the wire to the topmost track and follow that to C (S00790 26330) and from there turn uphill to the summit . As you ascend look back down to the curious field of small rocks below you.
The summit is marked by a cairn, trig pillar and a shelter from the wind. On a clear day you have tremendous views of the Knockmealdowns, the Comeraghs, Slievenamon, the ridge of Slievenamuck and the Slieve Felims away across the plains of South Tipperary.
You can carry on to visit Slievanard and Sturrakeen and then return by the field of rocks previously mentioned. There is a track through them you follow to a junction at D (S01488 26550). Here take the left fork, hop the fence and follow the track to E (S01561 26915) turn right and then left at F (S01603 26934), go left at the next track junction and then down hill crossing the road at G (S01832 27439) emerging at H (S02003 27630) near the start point. This makes a more interesting return than going back the way you came and its not as complicated as it sounds once you start down. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/626/comment/3640/

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Slieveanard at last

I have wanted to climb this mountain for a while now. Managed to do its foothills earlier this year through pleasant woodland. On tuesday the 11th May 2010 I took my chance. I took the Tipperary road out of Cahir and I followed the sign for Ballyheddin? wood where I parked. I followed the hillwalker poles/signs until I came upon a trek to the right on a sort of firebreak. I followed this to its end, going uphill all the time. Then I turned left until a junction in the forestry road. There I turned right uphill. It was straight all the way after that. The forestry road ended in a turning point for a lorries and a grand view. Some deer scattered nearby on my approach. I followed a trail to a fence marked by a faded pink belt where I crossed over the fence and turned left and followed a rough tractor track uphill to a wide 'path' to the top of Slieveanard NE. There I found majestic views to the west, north, east and south to the Galtee's. To the north the Slieve Blooms and the Devils Bit range. To the west Keeper and the Slieve Felims. To the east the Knockmealdowns and Comeraghs. I wandered about for twenty minutes looking at the Galtees and stopped at a small mound of stones near the descent at the end of a low stone wall. I was most impressed with the cairn on its top near the trig. It was a windbreak in two sections!. I sat in to the north section. There I enjoyed the sambo and tea in peace and windfree with the sun shining. The Galtee's were inviting me to walk them but time would not permit....the view of Cahir below and the rocky field as described by Jackill were my parting glance. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/626/comment/4753/

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SCARRAGH WOOD TO BANE

Other possible starting point is Scarragh Wood car park I (S02850 24927) which has ample parking space. Follow forest tracks (appear to be shown accurately on OS map 74) to J (S00804 25081) and turn north-west onto side track (not shown on above map) which leads to gate crossing at edge of forestry after approx. 200m from first joining side track. From here proceed across open mountain to summit. Incidentally this mountain is referred to locally as Bane. I took in Bane as being the final summit of the Galtee Crossing on 29/06/14 before descending to Cahir having started at Anglesboro that morning. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/626/comment/17524/

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As old as the hills

Approached this from Slieveanard to the west, having started at K (S0096 2426), following forest tracks. (See entry for that hill) From here, drop back down the way you came to where the track forks, take the left track for a while then cut directly across the heather, which wasn't too long and has plenty of sheep trails to follow down to the col. Roughly around L (R998 260) there is a more substantial track that leads all the way to the summit, which is marked by an ancient, or certainly very old, circular structure and a trig pillar. Return by same route. This Carn is slightly unusual in one respect in that it is actually higher than the main Slieveanard itself. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/626/comment/23298/

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