A way to better things.

Climbed this top on 8 May 2012 as part of a round that also included Nephin Beg. A constant thought that one has in climbing in this range for the first time is one of "remoteness". Even finding the start point for a walk can be difficult to locate among the numerous small roads and lanes that abound in this part of Mayo. We parked at the Brogan Carroll stone bothy E (F968 055) and followed the waymarkers W for the Letterkeen Looped Walk/Bangor Trail. After initially crossing a narrow wooden bridge over the Altaconey River we followed the trail for some 3.2K to C (F937 073) a point where the forest on the right ends, to be replaced by open ground. The S Top lay due N up the hillside 1k along and some 230 metres in height gain. Going was good and the climb gradual, over a mix of grass and peat with occasional stoney patches. While the view N from the top is dominated by Nephin Beg there were fine views SW to Glenamong and the mountains of the Corranbinna Horseshoe, with Bengorm, our climb on the previous day clearly visable due south. Nephin Beg S Top is a broad flatish non-descript area with the high point marked by a small pile of stones. Return is by way of ascent or for a more satisfying day in the hills, as in our case, continue on NNW to Nephin Beg about 2.2k further along. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/784/comment/6816/

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Following the Bangor Trail(ish)

Did this on the way to Slieve Carr on 24 07 10. Started by parking at Letterkeen Wood at F (F97658 05083). Walked South for a couple hundred metres then followed the Western Way/Bangor Trail markers to the right and then on to the bothy where there's an info board describing the Letterkeen Loop/Western Way/Bangor Trail on which you are on all three at this point. We went across the very sturdy bridge and followed the Bangor trail west on a rough track until we came to a junction where the Bangor Trail continues forward and the Letterkeen Loop goes right. At this point we followed the Trail straight ahead for about 200metres passing the corner of the forest then went right off the trail and followed a bearing for the summit uphill. Two hours from the car and a small pile of stones seems to mark the possible summit although I took my GPS reading some 20metres away where the highest point (it seemed) was! We had no views as the cloud surrounded us and the Atlantic was hellbent on making sure we were soaked in the drizzle/mist. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/784/comment/5969/

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