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CONNEMARA & THE BURRENSome of our party (on Ben Lettery) called for the provision basket. It was little short of treason against the majesty of Nature, to fix those eyes on rolls and cold beef, which ought to have been directed to one of the noblest views of Cunnemarra.Route 98: South Benchoonas Connemara map (1:50,000), or map 37 (1:50,000), Discovery Series. Start at Kylemore Abbey car park (L 748585). Ascend south on path to statue (signposted from abbey, this path is essential to find to avoid rhododendrons). Climb Duchruach (indistinct summit), descend to Lough na Crapai veering left to avoid steep ground, climb steeply to Altnagaighera (no distinct summit; instead conglomerate rock outcrops along spur). Climb Garraun, take spur south and continue close to stream, veering slightly right from it near N59 to avoid farmhouse left and rhododendrons right. Turn right onto N59, take gated track right after one kilometre and pass abbey. Distance: 9 kilometres. Climb: 900 metres. Time: 3.5 hours. Route 99: North Benchoonas Connemara map (1:50,000), or map 37 (1:50,000), Discovery Series. Start on road at north-west end of Lough Fee (L 780621). Cross bridge and take track/path along south-west side of Lough Fee for about 1.5 kilometres. Climb to point 283 metres, Garraun, Binn Chuanna. Descend north-west to avoid steep ground, cross stepping stones at L 769633 to reach road. Distance: 8 kilometres. Climb: 600 metres. Time: 2.75 hours. Route 100: The Burren Map 14 (half-inch) or the Burren map (1:35,200). Start at junction of minor road on R477 (M 144088). Walk north along R477, turn first right onto track, walk 400 metres, then continue straight ahead onto indistinct path where track swings right. Walk path/track towards Black Head, then climb point 1,045 feet, Gleninagh Mountain (trig pillar), descend to path to east (escape route north-east from here to R477). Turn right onto this path, veering right where path is indistinct, to reach road at Feenagh. Take roads to start. Distance: 15 kilometres. Climb: 450 metres. Time: 4.25 hours (including 0.5 hours for low cliffs). Easier Routes in Connemara and the Burren Route 101 Connemara map (1 :50,000), or map 37 (1:50,000), Discovery Series. Killary Harbour: start at youth hostel (L 769651) and walk south-east along path close to fiord. On return pick up track which diverges inland (close to coastal path, it is indistinct), and further on has escarpment on right, to reach road south-east of youth hostel. Route 102 Map 37 (1 :50,000), Discovery Series, or map 10 (half-inch). Tully Mountain (about L 6762): climb from north-east and walk along summit ridge. Return can be made along shore. Highest point: 360 metres. Route 103 Map 10 (half-inch) hardly needed. Errisbeg (about L 6940): climb from west. Exceptional views for little effort. Highest point: 300 metres. Route 104 National Park map (one-inch) sufficient. Diamond Hill (about L 7357): climb from the National Park centre to its west, but note that erosion in this area may make it out of bounds. Highest point: 450 metres. Route 105 Burren map by T.O. Robinson The Burren: all this area is low level and good for pottering about. Apart from the area mentioned in route 100 above, the areas centred on Turiough (about M 2805) and Mullaghmore (about R 3396) from the north are good examples of the area's terrain, though there may be access difficulties around Mullaghmore at the time of writing (early 1994). The previous 'Connemara & the Burren' extracts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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