csd on Stookeen

According to Michael Fewer's Wicklow Way book, Aghowle means "field of the apple trees". Not much of those in evidence these days, but plenty of commercial pine plantations, which are in the process of being clear felled. I parked where the Wicklow Way enters the forest at Ballard (S96417 67543), and followed the marked trail almost to the point where it leaves the forest tracks, south of the summit. From there, it's an easy pull up through low-density, mature forest and open ground, up to the summit. The western approach, although not forested, is harder due to the steep gradient and hidden holes.
Nice views from the summit, including Mount Leinster to the south. The top is adorned by an OS trig pillar, plonked atop a long-collapsed cairn. After enjoying the panorama, I headed down to the west, picked up the forest track, and did a circle around to the north of the summit, before heading east back to the car. If you're planning on doing this I'd recommend the Wicklow Way book mentioned above: although there isn't any more detail shown, the 1:25,000 scale makes it easier to work out the sometimes dense network of forest tracks. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/740/comment/3109/

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simon3 on Stookeen

We briefly had this sparkling view of snow painted spruce in front of Croghan Kinsella. Minutes later the snow had melted! Stookeen has fine views in many directions. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/740/comment/4424/

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The heathery top in 2008

I approached Stookeen from the south and parked at A (S940 675). From here I followed the Wicklow Way, and headed north along a delightful grassy track, with high hedgerows on each side. This was muddy in places, but not unpleasant. A fence and stile are reached at B (S944 678) which, when crossed, bring you out onto one of the forest tracks that circle Stookeen at about 340 metres. This is probably the point csd also reached from the east from which he reached the summit. From here it was a straightforward haul up through the trees, emerging onto the heathery slope and finding my way up to the summit trig pillar.. Great views north to the lesser known Lakeen, Seskin and Muskeagh hills, as well as the higher mountains of Keadeen and Lugnaquillia further north again. To the south the Blackstairs were cloudy but visible. Another hill easily reached if doing the Wicklow Way, or else just a somewhat quieter place to walk if that’s what you seek. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/740/comment/3437/

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madfrankie on Stookeen

We did Stookeen on Sunday morning and took Wicklore's route from the south. Having crossed the stile at point C, we turned left and took the higher (right-hand) forest track. We immediately attempted to ascend to the summit, but were rebuffed by dense and impenetrable gorse, much to my 12-year old daughter's chagrin.
What we should have done was to continue along the track for a few hundred yards and climb to the top via an area of cleared forestry.
Anyway, the summit is a pleasant place with lovely views. A nice easy outing that ought not to take longer than an hour and a half. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/740/comment/4262/

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Standing stones in the mist

I parked at the forest entrance C (S963 677) just north of where the WW enters the forest. The tracks marked on the OSI68 sheet indicate something on the ground either road or firebreak. I picked my way to junction at D (S949 682) before climbing up through the new plantation and heather to the top. The mist was down so saw nothing apart from the interesting cairns at the top. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/740/comment/6182/

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