A route deep in the Beara Peninsula, taking in Maulin, Lackawee and Knocknagree.

There is one parking place at V720 482 at the end of a minor road in the tangle of roads north of Rossmackowen. One car can be safely parked while avoiding blocking either of the two gates - a second car would be a push.

Immediately north of the gate there is a network of tracks, some part of the Beara Way which help getting you onto open mountain. Ultimately the track you take will have a bearing on whether you approach this route clockwise or anticlockwise. I had initially anticipated an anti-clockwise round, but on reaching open ground found myself on Maulin's east slopes and would have had to lose height to head towards Knocknagree. Maulin is a steep climb from the east, but height is gained quickly, always a plus.

Some of you may have noticed a small item in the last newsletter noting the intention to add the 500m hills with between 15 and 30m prominence to the site; well that was high in my mind today, as one of the candidate hills is on this route. Spot Height 579 is potentially a future Maulin North Top, and I made sure the route took it in!

Heading south off Knocknagree is challenging, with layers of rock benches forcing frequent changes of direction and occasionally even a bit of backtracking.