Although we have visited the "S: Dublin South East" subarea of the Dublin Mountains many times, amazingly there are yet more minor but interesting variations. And so it was one crisp November day.
This route goes goes through Barnacullia. On the way up on a path to the north of the Blue Light pub and on the return down a path past smallish masts and to the south of the Blue Light. If you are walking in this area it is advisable to know about these various options.
Our target for the day was Tibradden Cairn which sits on top of Tibradden Mountain. A characteristic of these Covid days is that even on a Thursday the place is thronged with hillwalkers all getting their exercise fix. It was surprising how many friends we met. When nearing Tibradden from the SW we turned a sharp left to a lower less used track which dropped toward the R116 Glencullen Road. We met no-one on this wooded and informal track. However the route we chose to then get to the summit was not great, taking us over untracked heather and a granite boulder field replete with nasty vegetated places to put your foot into. The next picture shows the top of th way we came up.

From the top we had reasonable views such as this towards Fairy Castle. Our route back was another off-piste route which you can use.

After this we worked our way across the valley of Lugdoo and through the old firing range. It is here that you can sees the uneasy relationship, expressed in high fences and private signs, that is the interface between suburban one-off housing and forestry/ recreation on the higher ground.

On our way back through Barnacullia and past the Fernhill estate we once again saw the view of a major city abutting the hills.

No doubt about it. When compelled we can find interest in the detail of a complicated bit of topography.