eflanaga on The Foxes Rock

Leaving Carrickrawor (see for previous stage of walk), I took a bearing of 89 degrees, eventually finding a track and crossing a Spot Height, before a long but easy descent to Windy Gap. Taking the obvious track at Windy Gap I made my way up and around, leaving the broad track for a narrower one in order to make for Spot Ht 392. There is a style of sorts just a few metres down this narrow track but someone has completely demolished the fence immediately to its left. It takes some strange kind of mentality to do that I guess. There is a clear route rising into the impressive rocky hillside and it was helpful to find that by sticking to the track I was brought around the back of the Spot Height and contoured around the hill directly to the Foxes Rock summit. There is a small cairn on the rocky summit area. Great views across Carlingford Lough into the Mournes and back towards Warrenpoint & Newry. Light was beginning to fade so I didn’t delay here, heading directly for Ravens Rock. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/808/comment/2900/

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dr_banuska on The Foxes Rock

I climbed The Foxes Rock along with The Ravens Rock and the daddy of the Cooleys, Slieve Foye, as part of a long-anticipated 'clean-up' operation of the Cooley/Gullion summits listed on MV, having tackled the other five Cooley peaks west of the Windy Gap one day last summer. I parked at the spacious parking facility at the Long Woman's Grave in the Gap, about LgWom Gr (J130 138). The site is quite exposed so care should be taken not to leave any valuables - there's a sign to this effect.

There's an obvious track heading uphill and I followed this and crossed a stile over a fence after a short distance. The terrain is handy enough, although one section near the start was a little steep - ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem but with the recent ice extra care to be taken. In any case this probably could have been circuited with a brief detour. After a time you meet the remains of an old fence (with missing wire) which will take you to the small summit cairn if you follow it westwards.

Despite its low height this is a great hill and ridge walk, with views quickly opening out over Newry Canal/Carlingford Lough and the Mournes to the north, with Newry, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and (on this side) Omeath all visible. You can also see west across the Gap to Black Mtn/Clermont Carn with its distinctive masts as well as Carnavaddy, and Dundalk Bay to the south. I really think these hills offer some of the finest views in Ireland. I was also impressed by the extremely rocky landscape of the entire ridge, with countless random boulders and outcrops scattered about to explore (great for some nice foreground interest for budding photographers). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/808/comment/4425/

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csd on The Foxes Rock

I parked near the Windy Gap at A (J13162 13624), where there's space for a few cars, and then headed straight up the side of the bulk of Slieve Foye towards The Foxes Rock. Navigation is straightforward enough, and you'll be at the summit in around 30 - 40 minutes. Nice views across Carlingford towards Newry and across to Rostrevor and Warrenpoint. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/808/comment/3378/

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pdtempan on The Foxes Rock

I tackled Foxes Rock and Ravens Rock on a warm Saturday in May as part of trip by bike and on foot. I had climbed Slieve Foye and Clermont Carn before, so this was a mopping-up operation to bag the minor peaks in the range. Setting out from Newry Station, I took the road along the canal and then Newry River as far as Cornamucklagh, where I branched off on the high road through Bavan and Tullaghomeath, up to the Windy Gap or Bearnas Bó Cuailnge and locked my bike near the Long Woman's Grave, just south of the gap. It wasn't long before I was enjoying my lunch on Foxes Rock with a magnificent view across Carlingford Lough towards Warrenpoint and Rostrevor. I chatted to another walker, who also happened to have started by pedal power. He'd cycled out from Dundalk to Ballymakellett and was heading back via Carnawaddy. I left Foxes Rock, heading for Ravens Rock. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/808/comment/3803/

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Small top on an interesting ridge

Passed over the Foxes Rock as part of a trail run across the ridge running from Long Womans Grave over to Slieve Foye. Very interesting terrain with interesting rock formations scattered all along the route. Once more, the mist had also decided to hit the hills on a Saturday morning so I can't comment on the views. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/808/comment/6603/

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