[RWD version 1 ]
The start of this walk is at the Glenmacnass Car Park on the R115 north of Laragh. There are a number of attractions on the west of the carpark and the Glenmacnass River such as Tonelagee and the surrounding summits. The circuit show will also take you round Lough Ouler with its famous heart shape. The walk walk was done in a clockwise direction but could be done the other way. Crossing the Glenmacnass river should not be attempted in some weather condictions.
The pull up to Tonelagee is steep after the col from Tonelagee NE Top but affords great expanding views of Lough Ouler which can also be viewed from the scarp north of Tonelagee on the way to Stoney Top. On the steep pull up there are a number of big boulders which afford some shelter for some wind directions.
Escape route. The Glenmacnass River rises extremely quickly following rain. Do not cross it or plan to cross it if there has been heavy rain or a rain prediction. The situation is often worse for a group because some members may not feel confident in jumping or otherwise getting across swollen water. The obvious way to cross given the waterfall south of the car park is to head north upstream and cross where the river is smaller. However in emergency situations this may not be the best option because the trip to find crossing can be over 4km from the vicinity of the carpark (i.e. round trip 8km) and because the southern tributaries of the river may also be impassable requiring an even longer round trip to escape the valley.
Another option that can be considered is to go south from the bank of the river on the other side from the carpark. This is shown on the track. Head steeply up the side of the trees and then go towards O110020 which is around 1km South. There is a handrail of sorts to get there shown on the Harvey map in the form of a fence. There is also an extremely decrepit old green road some parts of which are visible and go in the right direction (see air photo layers of map for this.)
Walk downhill into the forest and after around 400m you will come to a forest road. This road which is in good condition and often protected by trees and banks leads south past Mall Hill and the Brockaghs and after around 7 or 8km arrives in Laragh from which there is assistance including food, accomodation and taxis (such as, in early 2012, Glendalough Cabs : Taxi 087972 9452 or Philip Davis - Taxi Service Roundwood, Laragh & Glendalough 087 6141297)