Harry Goodman on Knockanbane Mountain

We climbed Knockanbane Mountain on 23 March 2010 as part of a round of hills which also included Mullaghash and Barnes Top (see my comments on both of these hills for the first two stages of the route.) We approached Knockanbane Mt. by following a fence for 800 metres along the broad ridge that runs NW from Barnes Top. The summit lies approximately 70 metres SW of the fence on the flat boggy top at A (H631 002) and not at B (H651 002) as shown on the mountain views grid reference. This reference relates to a point some 2k to the E of Knockanbane Mt. All along the ridge there are splendid views S to the High Sperrins Ridge with Sawel prominent just across the valley. From the top we headed N with a slight touch of W to cross a fence and then went down the hillside to cross a stream at C (H62936 01375) before climbing steeply up the bank to a rough stone and muddy track. A left turn along the track brought us to a wooden gate which we passed through and then, further along, to two more metal gates. Further down we passed over a stone/cement bridge just before the wooden bridge that we had taken on our route to Mullaghash earlier in the day. From there it was a short walk out to the road and the starting point at D (C62398 02490). Before going for this walk I had read Derry259's comments but declined to also include Sawel and Dart on our route! However one point of interest occurs. The hill after Mullaghash in Derry259's comments should read Barnes Top and not Knockanbane Mt as shown. Knockanbane Mt lies to the W of Barnes Top not the other way round. I suspect Derry259 and Old Brendan must have been celebrating St Patrick's Day with a touch or more of the hard stuff and got their hills mixed up !! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/651/comment/4558/

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Derry259 on Knockanbane Mountain

On St Patricks Day myself and old Brendan climbed Knockanbane as part of a walk which took in Mullaghash,Barnes Top, Sawel and Dart. We parked at the old pub on the b44 between Feeny and Park and followed the lane signposted Ballydonegan Sweat House.Following this lane for approx a mile as it passes through a farm yard past a wooden bridge, through two gates and across a stream we reached the base of Mullaghash whos stoney summit could be seen of to the left.We reached Mullaghashs summit which is marked by large rock and turned right at the fence and followed it down and then up onto Barnes Top ,the fence turns right again and runs into a dip before rising to Knockanbanes summit.(Knockanbane and Barnes Top are basicaly two bumps on one mountain) We descended Barnes Top and reached Barnes Road at this point Brendan informed me that the farmer who owns this mountain is a bit funny about access.After crossing the road we forded the stream at the bottom of the valley before starting a steady ascent of Sawel,stopping for tea half way up.With our batteries recharged we set of again,old Brendan like a hare and me a tortoise.(must be the DELICIOUS chocolate which gives him a boost) We topped Sawel and headed into the valley between it and Dart .A quick ascent of Dart finished our climbing for the day and left us with a long two hour walk back to the car(including a 3.5 mile road walk)From Darts summit head for Crockahilly road which is in roughly a Northern direction ,at end of this road take right onto Dreen road ,then take the first left onto Kilcreen road ,follow this to its end and turn right at the b44 and 10 minutes walk away is the start point.....A good walk which took 6.5 hours including stops for tea and various pics Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/651/comment/4526/

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