Get Lost Mountaineering

Boughil, Knocknacappul & Knocklomena from near Lough Barfinnihy

Start/Finish

Minor road past Loch Barfinnihy. From Killarney, take N71 for Kenmare. At Moll's Gap, turn right on to Sneem road then take first right for The Black Valley. Drive down until a good parking space is seen on the left by what seems to be an old small quarry, now fenced off. It is possible to get a car completely off the road here. There is an even larger off road space further down the road.

Distance/Time

17 km       About 7 hours

Peaks

Boughil, 631 m, V 842 765 (Irish National Grid System)

Knocknacappul, 639 m, V 834 767.

Bascadh, 595 m, V 824 766.

Knocklomena, 641 m, V 797 766.      Irish OS Discovery Series Map 78 (1:50000)

Introduction

These hills lie due W of Moll's Gap with a road all the way around them. The ascents of Boughil, Knocknacappul and Bascadh (Pt 595, not named on the 1: 50000 map) are generally pleasant but the descent from Bascadh to Lough Fadda is on fairly rough ground and the ascent of Knocklomena, although technically easy, is a tedious slog. There are numerous fences to cross with no stiles. A few of these fences have barbed wire. There are good views from these hills which include Purple Mountain, Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Killarney Lakes but the view is dominated by the pointed peak of Mullaghanattin to the W and the Stumpa range to the NW. There is a road walk of about 5 km at the end.

Route

(1) From the road, walk SW up easy slopes of grassy ramps between outcrops to reach a small plateau. Fences come in from the left and right and meet below the summit plateau. From the corner, an old fence goes up to the small cairn which marks the summit of Boughil, 631 m.

(2) Return to the fence corner and follow it down W to the gentle col between Boughil and Knocknacappul. In clear weather, there is no need to return to the fence corner as the route is obvious. From the col, one can either follow the fence or walk up the obvious grassy strip to its right, N. A small flat area is reached with a small cairn and a metal post which marks the summit of Knocklomena, 639 m.

(3) Descend WNW, still following a fence to reach a wide boggy col. If the fence is followed, there is a rocky section just before the col which can easily be avoided by going further away from the fence. Careful route finding is needed for the ascent as the ground near to the fence can be awkward but is easier away from the fence. Soon reach a level top where a tiny cairn marks the summit of Bascadh, 595 m.

(4) Continue following the fence but no further than the shallow gap between Pt 591 and Pt 569. Descend down roughly vegetated slopes towards the N end of Lough Fadda where the ground can be sodden near to the lough. Continue W, ascending to drier ground. One can now walk up Knocklomena by a choice of routes but the better ground seems to be to the left although a more natural ridge seems to be on the right. Eventually reach the flat summit area where a small cairn close to a metal post marks the summit of Knocklomena, 641 m.

(5) Descend N down easy slopes. It is probably best to reach the road as soon as possible as keeping on the hill for longer and going NNE leads into overgrown grass, ferns and barbed wire fences. Once on the road, walk E to the junction where it is signed for Kenmare and follow this twisting road back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 17^th September, 2012.

(b) 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.