Recommend a mountain hike in Connemara?

Inkyhead

Heading for Connemara tomorrow to do a spot of hiking/climbing, but I can't make up my mind where exactly to go ..there's so much to choose from!

I'll only be landing there around 1pm so a duration of anything from 4 to 6/7 hrs would be grand.

There's two of us and we are well able for anything up to a difficult scramble/climb (ie. did Carrauntoohil last week and found it handy enough), extreme grade ridges and ropes would be out though

I don't think the weather will be great so that'll have to be taken into account. Was thinking maybe somewhere around the 12 Bens?

Inkyhead

Bump

Any recommendations would be great folks!!

Glencoaghan horseshoe sounds amazing but unfortunately wont have the time to walk it tomorrow..

onemorechance

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/diamond-hill-loop-walk/62332

phelixoflaherty

http://coillte.mountainbiking.ie/Derroura.html

Dunno the quality of it

phelixoflaherty

Apologios. Thought the post said Mountain Bike. If the weather is ****e. You could do the Killary Harbour famine walk. 10 miles low lying

Inkyhead

Cheers people. I've been up the Diamond a few times alright, it's beautiful but little more than a leisurely stroll, you'd be up and back in an hour. I'd prefer a bit more of a workout

Will def check out the famine walk if the weather is complete muck. It might not be too bad though looking at it! Gonna try and get in a climb if i can. Was thinking maybe Derryclare-Bencorr loop, or Leenane Hill, I dunno though, still haven't a clue..

Esroh

Derryclare loop you mentioned is a good start. Most walks in the Bens and Turks require cars dropped off or a road hike.
Devils Mother up and down from Leenane would be doable.From back of the cultural centre. Great views.

Doughraugh up and down from Kylemore. Follow the trail up to statue and then work your way up abit of a scramble and not easy to hit the exact spot on the way down. You can drop down towards the hotel if the weather is not good and then walk back to your car.

Hope this helps

Inkyhead

Esroh wrote: »

Derryclare loop you mentioned is a good start. Most walks in the Bens and Turks require cars dropped off or a road hike.
Devils Mother up and down from Leenane would be doable.From back of the cultural centre. Great views.

Doughraugh up and down from Kylemore. Follow the trail up to statue and then work your way up abit of a scramble and not easy to hit the exact spot on the way down. You can drop down towards the hotel if the weather is not good and then walk back to your car.

Hope this helps

That's a great help, thanks a mil

tphase

starting at Kylemore farm, you can loop Cnoc Bhreac, Binn Bhreac and Binn Bhan and return to your car by road. That would be my preference over Doughraugh:cool:

Inkyhead

Ended up climbing Devilsmother. Arrived in Leenane late in the day and I was on my tod. Parked at the Carraig Bar "last pub out of Connemara" and went straight up to the summit. Up and down in 2-3 hours. Pouring rain but wet gear on, thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again for suggesting it

Bull_Mccabe

The Devilsmother is no where near the Rock bar or "an Carraig" that is a different mountain altogether up the back of Glan. The Devilsmother is another two miles down the road in Mayo it is not in Connemara at all. I just wanted to clarify where it is, also its all private land so you can't climb it anyway. Most of mountains around Leenane are all private so technically climbing any of them is trespassing. I hope this information helps, and that you find a good climb.

tphase

the devil must have two mothers so
OS Discovery series #37 shows a Devilsmother at L 915 625, 625m above the aforementioned bar

duckysauce

Bull_Mccabe wrote: »

The Devilsmother is no where near the Rock bar or "an Carraig" that is a different mountain altogether up the back of Glan. The Devilsmother is another two miles down the road in Mayo it is not in Connemara at all. I just wanted to clarify where it is, also its all private land so you can't climb it anyway. Most of mountains around Leenane are all private so technically climbing any of them is trespassing. I hope this information helps, and that you find a good climb.

thought you lived in Sligo and got paid off ??

Donny5

Bull_Mccabe wrote: »

Most of mountains around Leenane are all private so technically climbing any of them is trespassing.

Trespassing isn't a crime in Ireland.

Inkyhead

Well it was actually a local out checking his sheep on a byroad nearby pointed out the peak to me and suggested starting from the Carraig. If the land isn't his, he owns neighbouring fields at least. I climbed to what I was sure was the highest part of the ridge but it was cloudy so I'm not 100%