And then Lugnaquilla

Whole track 42 miles

Hiking part: 6.8 miles there and back

I passed the access point (trail head) on my way back from Keadeen and, after checking the map, this sparked enough interest to do it.  My cycle route was similar, and I parked the bike at Ballinabarney Gap and set off. It was Sunday afternoon and I met several other hikers including a couple possibly older that 1, which was kind of encouraging.

Kelsha Bridge over Slaney

A cool place to swim (literally)

On the way there, and again on the way home, I stopped for a swim in the Slaney River.  Why not, I asked myself? After all I'm here to enjoy myself.

My photos follow, or if you prefer a Google Album go here.

The access point / trail head

Looking back climbing Ballineddan 704m

The goal before me 

Slievemaan summit 811m

Looking back to Keadeen

Lugnaquilla, two hikers coming over the crest

From the summit

Others were there

Mostly kitted up

Turlough Hill somewhere in the distance

A thingy to tell what you're looking at

The military warning sign

Returning

Goodbye Lugnaquilla

Lobawn and Donard

Being, I think, up to date on jobs around the place I thought I would go walk-about, where no man has gone before. At least not this man.

Track statistics: 21.84 miles, elevation gain 1102m, barefoot of course. My average speed was a mere 4.23 mph because I was walking for about half the time. I followed my usual route to the Donard pass, thence to Lobawn, returning via the village of Donard and through Hollywood Glen.

My favourite colour

My path, with Lobawn on the horizon centre 

Summit marker: a British army war department granite pillar

How and why a war department granite pillar ended up atop Lobawn I have not yet discovered but it is a kind of friendly touch on finally arriving at the summit. I stood on it to take photos and it wobbled so I figure it can't be planted very deeply.

I can recommend the mountain part of this route - all very barefoot friendly, no long grass where lurk ticks, and glorious weather. At the summit I ate my Cadbury's caramel egg and then lay naked on the warm peat gazing upwards at a mostly blue sky. The descent was glorious too - an easy to follow path that turned into an amazing green road so was able to run most of the way down.

Lugnaquilla, the highest peak in the Wicklows, is alluringly further along this path that joins numerous peaks on the way.

From the summit: the path onwards to Lugnaquilla

From the summit: my path to and from

From the summit: our lake

Descent

The green road

Which turned into a gritty lane

And ended in Donard - I had no money...

Leaving the metropolis

Holywood Glen

May blossom, along St Kevin's way

May blossom always reminds me of my father - his birthday was in the month of May and each year we would wonder if his birthday would come before or after the first blossom. If you look carefully you'll see the iconic statue of Saint Kevin just to the right of the tree.  Click on the image to expand.

Lugnaquilla

Today we hiked up Lugnaquilla, the highest peak in the Wicklow mountains. Either the GPS watch or those satelites it follows were playing up hence the impossible elevation profile. We all got thoroughly wet but enjoyed it none the less.  I traveled barefoot only once on grassy terrain as my feet are suffering from several splits despite various attentions.

Steep ascent

 

Tiffin

Art's lough mid distance and the Irish Sea on the horizon

Then the cloud came down followed later by drizzle

Somewhere between these two pictures we made it to the summit where it was in the cloud and wet and cold and windy so we left after stuffing ourselves with chocolate and mini cheddars.

Art's Lough

Serious descent!

We contemplated swimming but...

Final descent