I had an unexpected chance to get out today, but I admit to being a little disappointed that due to a late start, I couldn't go for a walk taking in several big mountains in the Bluestacks. Instead I had to settle for little Crockkinnagoe, and my expectations were not that high. However, in beautiful sunshine, this hill was an absolute gem.
I took the R233 from Pettigo, until about 2km out, and 4km from Lough Derg, I took a road on the right, signed L80452, but unnamed. When I reached another sign saying Lettercran 9km, I took a side road on the left, which soon had grass growing in the middle. I stayed on this until just before it came to a dead end, I parked in a large lay by on the right. There was an access track here, blocked by a gate, leading up through the forest. I was soon confronted with a choice of 3 tracks, one of which, on the right took me to a dead end next to a broadband mast. My second guess, the one on the left, passing through a yellow gate, took me to a wide gap in the forest, which continued right up the hill. The track continued on through another yellow gate, and the forest resumed, but I left the track between the two gates, and ascended the open hillside coming out above the forested area completely. I could now see a minor summit with a small cairn, and the mast marking the true summit. I was approaching these from the south, unlike the other routes.
The hill has quite a large, broad top, with many bumps and hollows, and it is worth taking a good wander round, as I found it very pleasing to the eye, and the views changed from each point. The minor summit with the cairn is definitely worth taking in, and on the walk from there to the main summit, there were great views over a little lough near the top. The main attraction is undoubtedly the view over Lough Derg and Station Island, sparkling in the sun today. Beyond that, the Bluestacks, the Dartry Mountains, Lough Erne and Cuilcagh all stood out.
It felt like being in a little wilderness all of its own up there, and with the heathery ascent, and the complex, rocky top, it had a similar feel to some of the Bluestacks I've been on. Deserves to be seen by more than the nine members currently logged as having climbed it.
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