wicklore on Muskeagh Hill

Using an old track I made my way by car to A (T006 734). From here I followed the edge of the forest up to the summit in about 25 minutes. A couple of fences had to be negotiated so I would suggest just staying inside the forest as long as possible. It felt fairly remote once I was up away from the grassy track where I had parked. However a small wind turbine and aerial at the summit, along with 5 empty cans of orange took away that remote feeling. (The cans were best before September ’09 so probably recent enough) I enjoyed the view across to a completely snow-covered Lugnaquillia in the north. The view of the vast plain that stretches south from Keadeen, broken by the little Eagles Hill, was impressive. This is a typical hill where the fields sweep up to meet a forest at the summit. A section of heathery bog also reaches the summit. A handy diversion for those on The Wicklow Way below who might like to head up for the views. Up and down in less than an hour, and for me a nice return to this neck of the woods bringing back fond memories of walking the Wicklow Way. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/844/comment/3416/

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Just Musk

I took a northern approach to Muskeagh, turning off onto Cuckoo lane between Hacketstown and Tinahely, parking at Derry Rv (T0172 7464) where the Wicklow Way leaves the tarmac road to continue up a boreen. This sometimes muddy track skirts Muskeagh's northern slopes, crosses a few gates, and passes a recently deceased sheep.
The Wicklow Way emerges onto a rough lane where I turned left and shortly arrived at the edge of the forestry. As Wicklore describes, it's 25 minutes to the summit, the highest point of which which is probably an earthen ditch that runs parallel to the trees.
A newer telecoms or TV thingy is at the top, compared to the apparatus in Wicklore's photo.
A nice ramble on one of Wicklow's more obscure hills. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/844/comment/6209/

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Thwarted from the east

In the interests of variety, I attempted an approach from the east, taking the narrow boreen that leads up to the reservoir in the area marked Glenphillipeen. However, it was not to be, as this route would have had me traipsing through fields full of livestock with the dog yanking my arm off on the leash in search of a chase. The other downside of this approach is there's nowhere to park without blocking the track, so I abandoned it and took the route described by wicklore. The track he mentions is fine for a normal family car or a 4x4, but I wouldn't take anything low-slung up it unless you're fond of the delicate sound of sump against rock! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/844/comment/4742/

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New trail

There is a new waymarked trail which traverses Muskeagh hill from west to east. I ventured there today as part of a loop of Tinahely. I approached from Crossbridge following the wicklow way to where the Way turns right to meet the road at Muskeagh. Don't take this right turn, but traverse left and follow a short trail up and down to meet a red arrow waymark sign which brings you up what is the first of 2 challenging climbs which has gradients of 20% in places. A couple of zig zags to smooth out the gradient would have been welcome. The path is quite closed in and shelted between trees to any views but the views reveal themselves near the top, on the southward side first, then with a little more climb, to the north and east. The summit is spoiled by the broadband mast. On the east side the landowner has assisted the local trails people in creating a nice trail between the fields all the way down to the Tinahely Shillelagh road, (R749). The exit/entry point is very close to Tinahely, just beside the Welcome to Tinahely sign. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/844/comment/15294/

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