Walking Ireland's Mountains: Kerry & West Cork(part 7 of 8)

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KERRY & West Cork

it was odd how, standing in mist among ecclesiastical-looking cairns [on Brandon] , we looked down and saw that Smerwick and Ballyferriter were enjoying a day of sunshine, Brandon Head was rainy, and Mount Eagle was in cloud. Climbing west of Dingle is deceptive, a succession of false summits, each windier than the last; but from the heights of Brandon the whole peninsula is spread out like a topographical map, path and road, cove and headland.
Paul Theroux, Sunrise with Sea monsters 1985

Route 114: West Iveragh
Rambler map 78 (1:50,000).
Start near concrete bridge (V 669712). Half-inch map and sheet 78 required to get there from Sneem but the following should suffice. Cross bridge westward in Sneem, fork right at green, take first road right, fork left at football field after 0.2 miles, turn left at T-junction after further 3.0 miles and drive 0.6 miles to concrete bridge. Park considerately. Walk track north from farm to end (this runs higher than shown on map), then cross stile just west of summit to reach Knocknagantee. Follow fence to near Knockmoyle, then continue to summit. Follow edge of steep ground south-east, initially following fence. Climb point 636 metres. Descend initially south, then south-west to rejoin initial track. Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 800 metres. Time: 3.5 hours.

Route 115: Iveragh - Mangerton Group
Map 79 (1 :50,000), preliminary edition.
Start at track's fork at end of side road (W 034839) - road does not extend as far south as shown on map. Walk track south-east and cross gate at end. Head south-east into valley with cliffs on right (slow going), and climb south to Lough Nabroda. Walk to south end of Crohane Lough (forest shown on map on east side of lake does not exist), climb north to pOint 391 metres and continue to Bennaunmore (454 metres). Retrace steps to col between last two peaks climbed and descend steeply west through old oaks to valley (do not attempt descent west elsewhere). Walk north along right bank of river to above-mentioned gate and retrace steps.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 500 metres. Time: 4 hours (including I hour for difficult terrain).

Route 116: Iveragh - Mangerton
Rambler maps 78 and 79 (1:50,000), preliminary editions.
To get to start at W 005856 cross OwgarriffBridge (W 007859) eastwards, take first right, drive 0.2 miles, park at bend left with bridge right. Walk across bridge, take centre gate immediately beyond and walk track/path to Lough Garagarry. Climb Stoompa from north-west spur, climb point 646 metres and continue, cliffs on right to Mangerton (trig pillar in flattish area of peat hags). Descend north-east (marker stones helpful) to spur east of Devil's Punch Bowl, climb point 782 metres and continue Distance: I 5 kilometres. Climb: 900 metres. Time: 4.5 hours.

The final 'Kerry' extract can be found here : Part 8

Information extracted from Walking Ireland’s Mountains: a guide to the ranges and the best walking routes by David Herman, published by Appletree Press.

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