csd on Slievebaun

Slievebaun is a good 300m drop down from Blackstairs, as can be seen from this perspective taken from the eastern slopes of Blackstairs itself. Slievebaun is to the left, Bran Scultair to the right in the distance. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/637/comment/3198/

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wicklore on Slievebaun

I had originally intended to loop around to Slievebaun at the end of a Bran Scultair – Carriglachan walk. However the weather deteriorated too much by the time I reached Carriglachan (heavy hailstones in July, mixed with fierce thunder!) so I gave up on that idea. By the time I was heading home the sun was splitting the stones so I diverted off to find a quick way up Slievebaun.

I parked at A (S808 427) at a set of locked double gates on the left. The road ends just ahead at a farm. A local on the road said the gates wouldn’t be used on the day, and I was ok to park there for an hour. Anyone else parking here should definitely ask at the farm for permission. Near this parking spot are two separate gates giving access into the fields below Slievebaun. I chose the right hand gate as there was livestock in the other field. I headed up through two fields and out onto the heathery summit area. As csd says, there is no distinct high point to this flat top. csd has nicely captured the view to Blackstairs Mountain from Slievebaun, so my photo shows the view SW to Bran Scultair, Carrigroe and Carriglachan. The eagle eyed will spot Brandon Hill lurking faintly in the background beyond.

The summit area is unmarked by tracks or any sort of human activity, and pink flowered heather is in abundance. It also offers expansive views to the N and E, although haze prevented me from seeing the sea. Because of its slightly isolated position, Slievebaun may never attract many walkers. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/637/comment/3962/

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Tag it on to a more challenging walk.

If this hill had not been listed in MV's I would not have sought it out and only did so as an extension of a walk over Blackstairs Mt from the Scullogue Gap to Knockymullgurry. From Caher Roe's Den rather than drop down SSW directly to the Cooliagh Gap we headed down ESE and out across the trackless long grassy expanse of the Bantry Commons before climbing up to the shallow saddle below Slievebaun. From here there was a short gentle climb up SSW to the unmarked grassy summit . On the day we were there the hillside was a hive of activity for a number of Quads but with little evidence of any damage being done to the ground. After a short break we headed down W to cross a stream in a deep little culvert before heading uo to the saddle below Blackstairs Mt. and Carrigalachan at C (S796 432). From here we walked about 100 metres W down the good track to where an old wall/ditch went off at a right angle. Leaving the track we followed the line of the wall down N for some 2.5 km to our finishing point at Knockymullgurry at Bog Rd (S79243 45051). Although the map shows a track all the way down this can be intermittent and in places very rough. Where the wall swings NW D (S795 449) we then had to negotiate a trackless way through some small fields and much boggy ground to reach the road and our cars at Knockymullgurry. Good luck ! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/637/comment/17891/

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White way to do it

Thursday 10/4/2014. Followed wicklores directions but did not park at double gates as they were open and some farm activity was taking place. I started at E (S80902 42309), parked car directly opposite the rough entrance to two new bungalows, enough room to park for one car so as not to block road. Just past the bungalows there is a well made farm track giving access to the open Mt above without having to jump any fences it leads up to a high field with a gate at the far left corner, with heathery slopes just beyond. There must have been a gorse fire here in the last few years as the remains of dried burnt gorse bushes abound. It was just a case of following in an upward direction to the highest point on Slievebaun. I passed lots of white stones on the way up, several of them were quite large, is this how Slievebaun got its name? Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/637/comment/15986/

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csd on Slievebaun

Slievebaun isn't really on the way to or from anywhere useful, so I chose to take in the summit on the way back from Blackstairs Mountain itself. I started at F (S80200 41607), where you can park a couple of cars without blocking the track, and headed up to the col between Carriglachan and Caher Roe's Den. I headed for the summit of Blackstairs, taking in Slievebaun on the way back. The low rounded dome of Slievebaun suffers from its proximity to the much more dramatic Blackstairs - Bran Scultair ridge: it's just not very exciting in comparison! At least there are some nice views along the ridge and out to the coast. There's nothing of note to mark the summit; the photo shows my bag at what is probably the highest point. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/637/comment/3197/

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