Mullaghcleevaun new route

There are some forestry tracks on the left just before the final ascent to the Wicklow Gap on the R756 heading Eastwards. The challenge was to make it to Mullaghcleevaun from home in an afternoon on bike and barefoot. Because of the off-paved-road segments I thankfully rode my old bike up to the summit of these forestry tracks (red arrow on map), then headed on foot.

The interesting part of my track

Distance on bike 21 miles roundtrip, elevation gain 498m
Distance on foot 6.6 miles roundtrip, elevation gain 407m

It was hardly running - too much boggy peat for that. Surprisingly I met two hiking parties. The chief guy on the second party stopped to talk with me. I was dressed in running shorts, period. He was dressed in typical hiking gear, boots and walking sticks. He asked me if I was all right. He repeated - was I sure I was all right?  I suppose we come for different universes.

On the return journey I mounted my bike and careered down the steep forestry track only to find that its sharp stones had punctured my rear tyre. I had no repair tools so was forced to ride the rest of the way home on the rim. And at that point it started raining... I made it home a little later than planned.

I had a spare inner tube at home, so the bike is now operational again - the rim (being steel) was not badly damaged and I was even able to re-use the outer tyre, though I would not recommend going any great distance on the bike now. Its main use, now I have a decent road bike, is for getting around the farm here. As usual you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

The ridge trail soon after leaving my bike, towards Tonalagee

Same, looking towards where I left the bike

Much of the ridge is peat like this

With wet bits

Mullaghcleevaun summit

Wet on the top too

Lough Cleevaun from high above

A bit to the right and Mullaghcleevaun East Top

Lough Cleevaun

On this very hot Saturday afternoon the Others having gone to Glendalough for a walk leaving me with no particular duties, I decided to go on my own walk. So I drove to the small car park above Lacken and took the usual route via Black Hill to Mullaghcleevan mountain with Cleevaun Lough as the final destination.

the interesting part of my track

Total distance 9.29 miles, average speed 3.28mph (ok so I ran some of the downhill bits), elevation gain 655m, maximum elevation 847m.

Altitude with time profile

Having got so close it seemed a shame not to climb Mullaghcleevaun so I did, and followed that with its East Top before heading back to Cleevaun Lough which I therefore approached from a new direction. I met only one other soul - she was heavily equipped as hikers are c/w two walking sticks, so what she made of me, scantily clad and barefoot, I know not. After that I had the mountains and lake completely to myself and made the most of it.  The flat part of the altitude profile above is time I was at or near the lake.

As always you can click on the images to show them at full resolution.

Our lake from the car park, note the smoke haze

Black Hill summit, gorse fires at Sally Gap in the distance

There is an ongoing "gorse fire" in the Sally Gap area, with firefighters and even helicopters trying to contain it. This has resulted in smoke haze in our area for the last 48 hours or so. Today the gentle east wind was carrying most of it Blessington way and thus not so much our way.

Smoke haze meeting the gentle east wind before Moanbane

The final climb to Mullaghcleevan summit ahead

Mullaghclevan summit, note the distant gorse fire smoke

Strange terrain on the way to the East Top

There are "fields" of peat between the summit proper and the slightly lower East Top - all dry in this hot weather and wonderful for running barefoot on.

East Top summit, fire in distance again

Lough Dan in the distance looking towards the east

First sight of the gem Cleevaun Lough

One of the many riverlets feeding the lake

Lough Cleevaun is a glacial corrie lake. The photo above shows how it "hangs" on the north slope and it amazes me how it continues to hold water. But it does and for me it is a magical place. Not many come here and thus one can swim naked with reasonable assurance of not being Seen.

Looking down into the water

The lake in all its glory and it was truly glorious

The water remains quite shallow near this "beach" and the bottom is studded with rocks. Being peaty the water appears black once more than about a foot deep and it is therefore somewhat treacherous on bare feet. So I choose my "safe" swimming location along the steeper slope on the left and here I enjoyed a brief swim. I have never known the water so warm. I could have stayed in this place all day, but had to get back for supper at 6.

The beach

North-west end of the lake - my lens must be smeary

Back at Black Hill summit, overlooking our lake

And back at the car park