Get Lost Mountaineering

Ludnaquilla via Fraughan Rock Glen, Ludnaquilla E Ridge & Clohernagh East Ridge from Glenmalur

Start/Finish

The car park at end of tarmac road (just before concrete ford) in Glenmalur at T 066 942. This can be reached from Donard in about an hour on minor roads. Donard is a good base for the Wicklow Mountains and it is signposted off the N 81 road between Blessington and Baltinglass. Donard has a lovely camp site (see notes below) if you are not in a rush and can stay a few days. If driving from Donard, then take the road opposite Toomey's Bar and follow it to the crossroads – it bends right on the way at a junction – where the Glen of Imaal Stores is located and where you can buy sandwiches, etc. Take the road opposite the stores and follow it, going left at every junction until you are in Glenmalur. The return drive can be via the Wicklow Gap road which takes you through Hollywood!

Distance/Time

16 km       About 6 - 7 hours

Peaks

Ludnaquilla, 925 m, T 032 917. (Irish National Grid System)

Corriegasleggaun, 794 m, T 047 910. Irish OS Discovery Series Map 56 (1:50000)

Introduction

Ludnaquilla is the only “Munro” in the east of Ireland and, obviously, the highest peak in the Wicklow Mountains. It throws out long ridges in all directions and has at least 10 subsidiary tops above 610 m. This is a relatively simple to navigate route with distinctive paths most of the way and about a 3 km road walk at the end. This route does not enter the Glen of Imaal firing range so there is no need to check with the army before setting out. Visiting Corriegasleggaun involves a short detour but it does deliver head on views of Ludnaquilla and its South Prison which is a rocky corrie. The summit plateau is rather featureless, apart from the cairn, so care will be needed in mist. You should be able to easily reset your GPS to the Irish National Grid System.

Route

(1) From the car park, cross the ford and walk NW up the track for a short distance until just past the footbridge. On the left is the start of a path which can be taken. The going is easy to begin and soon passes an old ruin but then is somewhat overgrown with heather, gorse, brambles and ferns! It was just about passable on 21/8/13 but will soon become too difficult. There seems to be two junctions on the path but it is difficult to tell. At the first go left and contour for a short distance, at the second go right, uphill. After 10 – 15 minutes the path emerges on the track which leaves the main glen track at a T junction past the youth hostel. This could be used as a longer but easier alternative. Follow the track up and out of the forest, ignoring any side tracks. Once out of the forest, the track gradually deteriorates to a path and heads for an obvious waterfall at the head of the glen. The easiest route goes up the right hand side of this waterfall and gradually diverges from it before going over the head of the glen. The path, still distinctive, heads roughly W, crossing a few minor streams and passing to the S of Benleagh, to meet the even more obvious path coming up the N ridge of Ludnaquilla from Camenabologue. There is a small cairn here. Follow this up the N (becoming NW) ridge passing the warning signs for the Glen Imaal artillery range. So long as you keep left of the signs, you are safe! Higher up, a few small cairns appear and there is a larger cairn slightly off to the right, on a shoulder, which looks across the North Prison (a rocky corrie) to Ludnaquilla. The ground underfoot is now very short grass and so easy to walk on that there is not much in the way of a path. Continue NW up the gentle slope, gradually turning SW around the North Prison corrie to reach the very large cairn on top of which stands the trig point which marks the summit of Ludnaquilla, 925 m. The cairn is large enough to provide shelter from any wind direction.

(2) Descend almost due E, down gentle slopes towards Clohernagh. A path soon appears. When a post is reached with a cairn nearby, the path splits. Take the right fork and follow the path down to a small grassy col then up the other side to soon reach the medium cairn which marks the summit of Corriegasleggaun, 794 m.

(3) Retrace back to the path junction and take the other path which leads gently to Clohernagh. The highest point appears to be a small cairn on a peat hag just off to the right. A larger, but lower cairn, is a little further. A fairly distinctive, but in places peaty, path leads down the E ridge. The going is easy at first but quite stony later. The path leads down to a stile after which easier zig zags lead down to a foot bridge then a road bridge and, soon after, to the Glen Malur road. Turn left and walk, mainly uphill, for about 3 km, back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 21^st August, 2013.

(b) Any alternative descents back to the Glen of Imaal should be checked at the Army advice centre beforehand as firing is often taking place somewhere.

(c) There is an excellent camping and caravan site, in the village of Donard, called Moat Farm. It has beautiful landscaped grounds, including a stone circle (!) and is very well laid out with free hot showers. There is a large campers’ kitchen with tables and sinks but bring your own cooking equipment and pans. There is a fridge and freezer. There is also a sitting room with a TV. The owner and staff are very welcoming, very friendly and very helpful. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer site. Donard is about 4 miles from the Glen of Imaal stores (where you can buy a sandwich). Donard is signposted off the N 81 main road between Blessington and Baltinglass. More about Moat Farm in its own section!