April 2019 update

Cullenagh Mountain April 2019
From forest entrance at A (S48462 90374) walk along the track, first tending North East then curving round to tend South East.
After 1 km from the start you reach a junction in the tracks at B (S49331 90428).
At this junction head South, gently uphill, along a good track for 460 metres to where there is another junction.
Take the left fork and continue straight uphill SSE (approx. 160 degrees) for around 525 metres (the fork to the right leads to the Communications Towers)
The track now begins to tend East, then North then curves around South again becoming grassy and a little mucky as you ascend.
You eventually come to a small clearing near the summit at C (S49907 89629).
You then have to dive into the trees, on a bearing of approx. 200 degrees, for 80/90 metres to reach the trig pillar at D (S49855 89565).
The line of the tree planting has, thankfully, made these last 80 / 90 metres reasonably easy to negotiate.
You may have to crouch but you should not have to resort to crawling on your hands and knees.
The trig pillar area is located in a small clearing and the light from this clearing, reaching faintly into the forest, will help you locate it.
The ground around the trig pillar has a healthy growth of briars and nettles but is still a welcome sight.
You can return to the start by the same route or, alternatively, on returning the last 80 / 90 metres to the clearing, head South down the grassy muddy track to reach a good gravelled track at E (S49859 89314).
By then turning left (East) and descending on this good track tending NNE, past a quarry on your left, and heading NW after crossing an earth barrier across the track at a junction at F (S50060 89920), about 550 metres from the quarry,
and following this track as it curls round to the west then crossing a bridge over a stream at G (S49355 90406), eventually arrive back at the junction mentioned above (B) just 1km from the start. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/936/comment/20505/

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peterturner on Cullenagh Mountain

Small place but wonderfully situated. Views of the entire Wicklow Range, the Blackstairs, the Slieve Blooms and more. I took a West to East route and ambled around for an hour and a half. Beautiful walk to do as the sun is setting and easily accesible by taking the road east from Ballyroan (marked Timahoe) and then the first left up a small road straight into the forest and parking about 500m in at a truck turning point on the right. I recommend checking the aerial photo provided by OSI mapviewer as the Discovery map does not show the forest tracks correctly. For anybody else wishing to add this to their tally the route briefly is as follows: From the parking point head further along the track until you come to an right turn curving uphill. Climb steadily and follow the track around to the left until you reach a set of masts. Past the masts head downhill on the same track until you reach a junction and turn sharply right. Follow this track ignoring the turn to the left downhill a short way along for now although this will be your route back. Nearing the conclusion of the track about ten minutes later you are greeted with ever expanding views of the entire Eastern mountain uplands including all of Wicklow and the Blackstairs. In front of you can be seen three forested hills in Stradbally direction, Fossy Mountain and Timahoe and other hilltops can be identified elsewhere including the Eastern half of the Slieve Blooms for example. The actual summit is nearly impossible to locate as it is buried in (June 2009) tussocky grass and a close coniferous plantation however the view is better from the top of the forest track anyhow due to the trees. Retrace your steps back to that turn (now to your right) downhill and follow this steadily downhill for another ten minutes until you reach a junction where you turn left and shortly after left again. This brings past the sound a small stream trickling in a fairly deep gorge considering its size and a crossroad of forest tracks. Head straight through the crossroads onto the straight level path and return to your starting point. The walk is entirely on a forest track and only requires a comfortable pair of shoes really unless you head off track. Quite a lot of forest felling and new plantation was going on at the time of writing. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/936/comment/3854/

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Cullenagh Mountain

This is possibly the shortest route up to the summit.

Start from H (S483 901) (Point A) , a road barrier will prevent you from driving further into the forest. Continue on until you come to a crossroads, at this point you turn right and proceed to walk uphill. At the next junction take the track the branches off to the left , Stay on this track ignoring the turn off to the left . As you continue on the forest becomes less dense. You will eventually reach a small clearing. Continue forward along a narrow path and after about 20 metres you will have reached the trig pillar. The only difficult part of this trek was the last 20 metres .

I climbed this on 17th April 2010. It was a sunny day but the views were very hazy , this was possibly due to the volcanic ash in the atmosphere from the volcanoe in Iceland. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/936/comment/4636/

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Briars

After a forest is clear felled the briars move back in anxious to make up for the time lost in the shade of the forest. The newly planted trees gradually grow up and compete with the briars making the plantation virtually impassable. This is the state of the summit of Cullenagh. Follow the advice given below and you will get to about 100 metres from the top. Then the 'fun' begins. I recommend a machete.
Alas, the views from the top are quickly disappearing behind the trees. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/936/comment/6703/

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wicklore on Cullenagh Mountain

I just want to add a few extra bits of information to peterturner’s detailed post on Cullenagh Mountain.

Cullenagh rises just outside the village of Ballyroan in Laois. It is easily visible by anyone travelling on the N8 south of Portlaoise. I followed peterturners directions which brought me to the start of the forest tracks at H (S483 901). There is a choice to park here or bring the car further along the tracks far into the forest. As mentioned the tracks are more widespread than depicted on the map so don’t get lost!

I reached the end of the track near the summit at I (S499 896). I was able to push the baby’s buggy most of the way. In a few places where the forest operations have churned up the track I had to carry the baby and drag the buggy behind! The forest track eventually ends at a small clearing. I was able to find a narrow path leading through the furze and young trees from here to the trig pillar at J (S498 895). When you reach the clearing just walk straight ahead and you will find the beginning of the path where there is a clear plastic ribbon tied to a tree. (Not put there by me!)

There is widespread forestry around the hill, and the trig pillar is almost surrounded by thick growth. This route really might be the only sensible way up. Great views do open up in places, especially at the end of the walk. This is an easy amble that can be shortened by how far you bring the car into the forest. Just watch the muddy spots! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/936/comment/3874/

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