Get Lost Mountaineering

Caherbarnagh from upper Clydagh Valley

Start/Finish

From Killarney, take the N22 road towards Macroom and Cork. Pass the church with a petrol station opposite at Glenfesk then continue for about another 13 miles. Just after a turning on the right, R 569, turn left which is signposted Clydagh Valley. In less than a mile, go left and cross Clydagh Bridge or you will end up back on the main road! Drive about 5 miles (from the main road) up the narrow road in the Clydagh Valley to reach the start fo a conifer plantation, opposite which is a large forestry bridge on the right. Continue to the end of the plantation where one should be able to park in the wide entrance to the plantation. If this is not possible, retreat to the bridge area at the start of the plantation. The last farm in the valley is a little further on but parking here may cause problems.

Distance/Time

12 km      About 5 hours

Peaks

Caherbarnagh, 681 m, W 191 871.

Stoukeen, 627 m, W 198876.

Glanaprehane, 668 m, W 188 876. (Irish National Grid System)

Irish OS Discovery Series Map 79 (1:50000)

Introduction

Caherbarnagh is a moorland summit which presents a steep rocky side to the N but long wet, mossy, grassy, heathery and boggy slopes to the S. There is a fine corrie between Caherbarnagh and Glanaprehane. In clear weather, there are good views of The Paps, Musheramore and Mullaghanish plus the plains to the N. An ATV like track can be followed most of the way to the summit although it does weave around a lot to avoid the peat hags. The final part of the ascent follows a fence which ends at the summit trig point with the trig point being the final fence post!

Route

(1) Walk E along the road to the last farm where the road becomes a track. Continue on the track for a few hundred metres passing a metal gate, on the left, with a short track leading to a second gate. Soon a half width metal gate is reached where the required track starts. This track can be followed, mainly N, up and over Knocknagowan, then up the S ridge of Caherbarnagh. In places the track is faint and other tracks appear. The track is quite wet and mossy in places but is a good navigation guide. Higher up, a fence comes in from the right and this leads all the way to the trig point which marks the summit of Caherbarnagh, 681 m.

(2) From the summit, walk NE down a gentle grassy, but pathless, ridge to the gentlest of cols then ascend only about 20 m to the grassy mound of Stoukeen, 627 m, where there seems to be no cairn. It is worth continuing to the cairn, shown on the map, about 500 m further. The cairn is large enough to provide shelter from the wind.

(3) Retrace to the trig point, taking in the fine views of the corrie, then follow the edge NNW down and up gentle grassy, but pathless, slopes up the grassy mound of Glanaprehane, 668 m, where there is a very small cairn, easily missed.

(4) Return to the trig point or fence then retrace the outward route taking care not to follow the wrong track lower down which could take one too far to the SE towards the white house shown on the map at the end of the track.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 12^th September, 2012 and 13^th September, 2012.

(b) Omitting Stoukeen and Glanaprehane saves just over an hour.

(c) The Fossa camp and caravan site, at V 910 923 is very good and very well situated for the Killarney mountains, especially Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain as it is only about 3 miles from Kate Kearney's Cottage. At Fossa, there are camping and caravanning facilities as well as a hostel and static trailer vans can also be hired. For campers, there are excellent showers (small extra charge) and there is a good campers’ kitchen with tables, sinks and cooking area if you have your own cooker and pans. Gas rings are available (small extra charge). There is also a TV room. Reception is open quite late in the high season and the staff are very helpful. A computer is available for hire and there is a freezer in reception. There is a bus stop outside the site for Killarney. There is a 24 hour Tesco which is off the northern bypass (turn right at 4^th roundabout then right at next). Out of high season, it can be better for 2 people to rent a trailer van than to camp separately.