A view in a million!

Park at the new car park [OS Sheet 83, A (V388 650)] at the start of the new Bolus Loop route. The loop itself is worth doing and is what I had in mind until…well more on that later. Anyway, head south for about 1.5 km until you come to a Y junction…you'll have magical views of Puffin Island and the Skellig rocks as you amble along.
The signage for the loop is set up for an anti-clockwise direction so the arrows are pointing to the right at this junction. However, if you want to get up Bolus quickly, take the left road and follow its zig zags until you reach teh obvious saddle. Head left, following the fence and jumping it when it intersects with another one. From here it's a very short skip and a hop to the summit from where there are magnificent views looking east into Ballinaskelligs Bay and the islands off derrynane and west to the Skelligs and puffin islands.
If you're doing the loop retrace your steps to the col and cross a style to continue to the old barracks at the top of the next minor hill. There is also a WW2 lookout nearby - at the time this was manned around the clock by a party of 6 according to the local farmer I spent a few pleasant minutes with. His quip "If a farmer from Carlow or Kilkenny came down here, he'd starve" is one that I'll not forget in a hurry.
I had ascended in the late evening and was planning on sleeping in the shelter. As my stew was cooking on my stove, I figured I'd save time and set up my bed only to discover that I'd left my sleeping mat in the car! It was a breezy, cool evening and a sleeping bag on the concrete floor would not have been conducive to sleep (even if I had a bottle of whiskey with me) so, after eating, I headed despondently back to the car. It took less than an hour to get there but by then it was dark and, despite being back in the presence of my sleeping mat, I drove back home to Killarney instead. Tthe moment had passed!
For info on the loop walk see
http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/bolus-head-looped-walk/88297 Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/782/comment/17967/

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Fine views

Bolus out on the tip of the Iveragh peninsula provides great views of Scariff island and Denish island and the now world famous Skelligs. Due to time constraints we climbed this hill from the South side on a somewhat similar route mentioned by three5four0. From here its only about one kilometre to the summit. However if time is on your side, on the North side of the hill there is an official Bolus Head waymarked trail and you could take in the summit via this route which would make for a good few hours hiking. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/782/comment/20545/

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Short but rewarding summit walk

Drove out to Bolus Head and parked in a small lay-by (room for one car only) at B (V395 628). Walked a short distance along the road, went through a gate on the right and followed a track up hill to a shallow col between Bolus Hill and the spot height 284. At this col there is a fence with a gate (& way marked way markers), I turned right and followed the the fence up hill, reaching the summit quickly in the teeth of a gale. This small summit, like the others in the Iveragh NW group, gave fine & expansive views of the surrounding coast and hills, with the barracks giving a fine backdrop for those who like their photos in BW! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/782/comment/6535/

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Scenic Walk at Tip of Iveragh

After a wet morning in late August 2009, we parked the car at the small roadside quarry at C (V414 635). Walked out along the road by the Cill Rialaig artist's colony enjoying spectacular views across to Beara. Took the small bohereen which veers off to the right at D (V394 628). Made the short walk up to the col referred to by three5four0. We turned left at this point to take in the seaward summit with great views to the Skelligs and across Fionán's Bay. We retraced our steps to the col and followed the fence, eventually gaining the summit of Bolus mountain itself, short but steep. Nice views back onto Waterville and Iveragh. We made our way cross country from here more or less directly to the starting point. Not sure I would recommend this as there were many fences and the ground was rough. Probably better just to retrace one's steps. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/782/comment/6594/

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Windy Climb

The best place to begin this walk is on the country road west of Bolus. You will find a small Monument on this road which is the best place to park: A (V388 650). Walk about a mile down the road and you will come to fork in the road: E (V392 636) and take the left lane which will lead you to a path up towards the ridge. Unfortunately I got gail force winds and no views at the top. I will have to come back another day. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/782/comment/18483/

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