youngjohn on Cashlaundrumlahan

Took the Derrybrien road from Loughrea to the right just after the lake. After a few miles took the windfarm road. Parked outside the open gate which was just as well as it was locked for the night on our return. We (some family members ventured forth with me) walked about 3/4 mile on tarmac before going straight ahead up a gravel forestry (Pine and Spruce) road. We followed this road for a couple of miles or so before veering left and up hill for another half a mile to reach a small waterfall and our first view. Another few hundred yards and we were at the base of the windfarm where the forestry road ended. I ventured up a bank through some trees and over some deep narrow drains and boggy ground to find the wind farm and its giant sized turbines near turbine 48E. I ambled about for over half an hour to find the summit but couldn't say that I did or didn't! There seemed to be several points. I found no trig. I did find the most awesome views. To the west Galway Bay, The 12 Pins, the Maumturks and Croagh Patrick peeking through. The view north was obstructed by another hill also baring alot of turbines. The view to the east covered right across the midlands to the seven sister woods or Eyrecourt, Croghan Hill was further east and to their south the Slieve Blooms, the Devils Bit range to Keeper and even Loughderg shining silver. To the south more of the 'Aughty's' and the 'hills' of Clare back to Galway Bay. A thoroughly enjoyable moderate hike of a lovely sunny day on gradually undulating mountain roads. The only advice is not to go off road near the windfarm as the terrain has been ruined by their construction, deep narrow drains and peat pool, but what wide views! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/889/comment/4018/

Read Less

paddyhillsbagger on Cashlaundrumlahan

Cashlaundrumlahan was my first climb of 2010 after waiting for all the icy roads to thaw but I still managed a slide on the old N6 on my way to this top. Following on from youngjohns comments I started on a forest track at A (M618 040) which turned out not to be the wind farm entrance (which is about a mile further up the road away from Derrybrien) and so had to hike up left a forest cut taking electricity lines to the wind farm. When I got to the plateau which is the top, there are a plethera of turbines and as youngjohn said, very hard to decide where the top is. I walked past the wind farm office heading to a mast then chose the highest turbine to walk to. Walking off road is not an option as there are warning notices of 20'000 volt cables below! I got to my chosen top and found no trig so a bit disappointed after 20 minutes I decided to walk back to the office via a different route which gave lovely views of Loughrea below. I took a photo at turbine D61 and headed on only to notice the trig on the opposite side. Woo Hoo! Found it purely by chance as no GPS for me! Happy, I returned to the car. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/889/comment/4362/

Read Less

Close but not close enough

Heading East on the R353 Gort to Portumna Road I turned left shortly after Derrybrien to a forestry entrance with tarmac road at GR B (M62332 06754). The barrier was open so I followed the road to the windfarm entrance. Unfortunately this was as far as I got. The gates were locked and No Trespassers wanted. A map at the gate shows the location of the turbines which will be helpful if looking for the trig point hiding behind D61.

I didn't fancy heading in there alone with all those high voltage cables waiting to zap me. Will have to make a return trip someday and approach it from an entrance further south. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/889/comment/14976/

Read Less

Site map

Helpful map at entrance to Wind Farm Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/889/comment/6529/

Read Less

Wind turbines and trees

Starting at the entrance to the Derrybrien windfarm at C (M62349 05351), this is a short out and back walk through the windfarm. There is a road leading all the way to a gate at D (M59778 04876) but getting to the exact high point is a bit of a gamble as there are enough signs on the gate with warnings to keep out and lightening bolt signs to make you think twice. If you do decide to hop the gates and ignore the warnings, it looks like a bit of a maze to get to the high point as there are grid lines of wind turbines. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/889/comment/20095/

Read Less