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Peter Walker: Track 3336 in area near Maumtrasna, Partry/Joyce Country (Ireland)
Maumtrasna & Devilsmother
Length: 18.6km, Creator time taken: 4h52m, Ascent: 1070m, Descent: 1077m
Places:Start at L9350465652, Mám Trasna, Glennagleragh Mtn, Knocklaur, Binn Gharbh, Binn Gharbh (mullach thuaidh), Magairlí an Deamhain, end at Start Logged as completed by 1
Maumtrasna and Devilsmother form a logical circuit above the valley culminating in Killary Harbour. Despite often being climbed together the brutal steepness of many of their slopes has prevented a consensus being formed as for the best route...this is just my version. I did the walk solo with limited time, but the recent good weather rendered conditions underfoot benign...as others have suggested some inclines hereabouts are properly awkward when wet.
Maumtrasna from the lower part of the Devilsmother's north ridge
I used the route suggested in Paul Phelan's Connemara and Mayo guide to gain the Maumtrasna plateau: this follows the Glennacally River south and then the Glenfree River east. An incipient stream flowing down from the plateau provides a straightforward ascent with the steepness of the valley sides being easily mitigated with sensible route selection. Once aloft the going is reasonably easy to Maumtrasna's highest point.
Typical scenery on the Maumtrasna plateau
The walk on over Glennagleragh Mountain and Knocklaur is largely guided by a fence and is mostly grassy underfoot, with the onward descent from the latter needing a bit of care. A steady pull to the Devilsmother ridge deposits you just north of the summit with an easy out and back visiting the top. Next is the highlight of the journey (in good conditions), the descent of the north ridge over a couple of intervening summits but with a quite magnificent view to Killary Harbour to prompt endless photo stops.
Killary Harbour from the Devilsmother ridge
The descent from the ridge is very steep whichever route is chosen. I had to do it at express pace owing to impending darkness, but on the upside this meant I was on the ridge in optimum conditions for photography. On the right sort of day this is something of a classic, and highly recommended.
Well, you have to don't you?
Uploaded on: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 (23:07:29) Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/track/3336/ To download GPS tracks you must be enrolled and logged in. See "Login or enrol", top right - quick and easy.
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NOTE: ALL information such as Ascent, Length and Creator time taken etc should be regarded as approximate. The creator's comments are opinions and may not be accurate or still correct.
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