three5four0 on Mamore Hill

After being rained off on a stormy day several weeks ago, we returned to complete the Raghtin More - Urrishills ridge, this time starting from where we left off, at the car park above Mamore bridge. The track up to the col was of the usual soft type, but quite good despite that. There was however an unusual amount of clegs, forcing the better half to quickly change from her shorts to trekking pants in a blink of an eye, while i tried to kill as many of them as possible. Climbing up a small sharp slope before a gentler rise to the summit of Mamore Hill, the last of the morning mist disappeared into a blue sky and the promised good day by the weather men arrived. We continued with the descent down to the Gap of Mamore and followed the old quarry track (the one on the north side of the Gap and not marked on the map) before ascending up through heather and then a faint path to the first top for a spot of lunch. There is a small path following the ridge over Croaghcarragh to Urris Hills and this tended to go straight up the sharp slopes on the far sides of the small descents on this ridge walk. But if you looked carefully, there is in some places, a more contouring path which rises to the right of these small cols in an arc back up onto the ridge.

The good weather gave far ranging views all around, in complete contrast to our previous visit, the summit of the Urris Hills gave one surprise, after the earlier clegs, we now encountered Ladybirds which was a much better experience, despite finding them everywhere on our clothes and rucksacks. We descended to Lough Fad (a wonderfully dark lochan with a rocky ridge behind) and followed the river downhill, till we met the the tracks to Lenankeel, then the road back to Mamore Bridge.

Whilst supping a pint in the Rusty Nail, the barman enquired were we had been walking. After we had told him, he said there was a path right to the summit of Raghtin More, from in front of the pub and that is the way some in the pub would climb the hill. Might be of interest, given that the eastern slopes are of the soft variety or when the river cannot be forded. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/727/comment/3249/

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padodes on Mamore Hill

Starting out from the 'Waterfall Carpark' at But Br (C359 469) and climbing to the rather bland tops of Raghtin Beg and Raghtin More, I dropped down to Crockmain. The photo, taken from there, gives the view that one has then of Mamore Hill further south, beyond Mamore Gap. On a rather 'atmospheric' day, with the moisture-laden winds from the Atlantic forming clouds before my eyes and the threatening rumble of thunder every few minutes, I decided to give Mamore a miss this time, but it's definitely a little jewel, with the promise of good views and a narrow ridge further south. To return to my point of departure, I had to be content with crossing over to Slievekeeragh to the east and following it northwards with a fine view of the narrow defile of Butler's Glen to the left, before its stream cascades down into the beautiful little park below. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/727/comment/2763/

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gerrym on Mamore Hill

I had missed Mamore Hill on my last visit along the length of these hills and was determined to put this wrong to right. I came from Butlers Glen to the N, taking in Raghtin Beg & More and Crockmain, before dropping down steeply to bask at the foot of this hill. Mamore is an exciting looking prospect on the descent from Crockmain and i suppose it did not disappoint.
There is a linking area of higher ground between the two hills and this should be followed to the base of a steep climb alongside areas of scree. There has been traffic on this straight upwards section and some accompanying erosion. On reaching the top there is a more gentle winding track thorugh the heather to the top proper and a small cairn. The views from here are beautiful - looking back it is hard to distinguish where Crockmain ends and Raghtin More begins as the ground rises steeply from sea level to over 500m. The little beach at Lehan Bay had specks of people on its colourful strand far below and there was plenty of other high and low sights to capture the minds eye. There is another small cairn ahead and a great descent above the road climbing through Mamore Gap. This is on an ever narrowing line which has bare rock jutting up before dropping to the road at the Gap itself.
Choices, choices - continue on or not. Unfortunately it was not, partly to avoid a long road walk back to the car at Bulters Glen. Walking down the road on the E side brings a farm track on the left which heads up the valley and down to Butlers Glen in a much more acceptable way than the road. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/727/comment/3134/

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Part Of A Brilliant Ridge Of Hills

Tackled after walking Croaghcarragh and Urris Hills on the other side of Mamore Gap, and before continuing on as far as Crockmain, this was one the best days I've spent in the hills. Even a bit of a deterioration in the weather couldn't spoil the splendour of the views from this ridge. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/727/comment/18869/

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