Heading home from a day's walking in Wiclow on 28 May 2012 I decided to go and visit two hills that can be approached from the Wicklow Way near L Tay, Sleamaine and Ballinafunshoge. I parked to the side of the forest entrance near the Pier Gates and signed for the Wicklow Way O 1732706289 A, and as suggested by csd walked along the track to O 1720505915 B to access a forest ride that would give me "easy" access to the top. Not so, things have changed since csd was there in July 2007, in particular the trees have been harvested between the road and the quoted access point/forest ride. However as I could see evidence of a track going up the line of what previously would have been a forest ride I decided to plough on! The area is covered with the remains of debris from harvesting the trees and progress along called for much clambering over same for about 200m to the end of the forest and open ground. Once there it was relatively easy to make progress left (SSW) along the forest edge and pick up a narrow but distinct path that could be followed along to the unmarked top of the hill on a flat heather covered area O1699505505 C. On retracing my steps back along the forest edge, about 250m along, I passed an obvious path O1701105755 D going off to my right (SE) and followed it down for some 400m to return to the Wicklow Way track. While some felling has taken place in this area there were no obstructions on the path (May 2012) to hinder progress. For anyone wishing to go to the top I would there fore recommend the use of this path, some 700m along from the start, at O 1740205653 E to gain "easy" access to the top of this hill. Once back at the Wicklow way I could have made a simple turn to the left and back to the start but as I also wanted to include Ballinafunshoge in my walk I turned right (S) and followed the track for about 2k in search of an access point. But that is another storey, for another place! Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/690/comment/6839/

Not the most impressive top in Wicklow, but it does have the redeeming grace of affording one of the best views of Lough Tay and Luggala (Fancy) to the north, as can be seen in the photo. The etymology of the name itself seems to have stumped Mountain Views, and a wider search on the Internet drew a blank as well. In his "East and South" walk guide, David Herman describes a full five-hour, low-level circuit of Lough Dan, which includes Sleamaine and Ballinafunshoge. Be aware, though, that to find a suitable place to cross the Inchavore River, you may have to walk a good distance up the valley between Kanturk and Knocknacloghoge. As I found to my discomfort one late evening, it tends to carry a lot of water, even after a spell of dry weather. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/690/comment/2913/

Sleamaine is easily reached from the forestry entrance near Pier Gates. After about 250 metres, turn right at the forest ride at O17205 05915 B, which will bring you up on to the open ground west of the forest. There are some nice views over to Knocknacloghogue and Luggala, spoiled only by the power line that runs along the ridge. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/690/comment/2771/