Lugnaquilla Hike

obi604

Hello, myself and the 10 year old have done over 30 hikes - e.g. Mweeelrea, Carrantouhill, Blackstairs, Croagh Patrick, Benbaun, Nephin, Galtymore, Benbulbin etc

We always keep a close on weather and abandon ship if we are any way unsure.

Looking to climb Lugnaquilla in the Wicklow mountains. What is the most standard route here?

Esel

The normal route is via the Glen of Imaal, but it's boring enough IMO. Well-worn track to follow.

I like the route from Glenmalure via the Fraughan Rock Glen. Great scenery with the cliffs on the right as you go up through the glen. You can descend via Art's Lough then down by the Carrawaystick Waterfall and a short walk back to the car.

Not sure how safe the car might be there though...

rowantree18

Just choose your weather as well as you can. Lug has notoriously unpredictable weather, it can mist up to total invisibility in seconds. It's common enough to ascend via one route and find yourself having descended via another leaving you far from yiur car.....happened to me.....and I'd be fairly experienced

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122754804#Comment_122754804

thanks.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122754587#Comment_122754587

Thanks

Is this the one from Fentons Bar?
how long is the Glenmalure route? And where do you park for this one?

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122755226#Comment_122755226

Yes, Fenton's in Glen of Imaal.

In Glenmalure, park at the end of the road.

Not sure of time tbh - it's been a while. Less than 6 hours I'd say, but that's no more than a rough estimate.

You could do a Naismith's Rule calculation from the map.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122754587#Comment_122754587

is the route you talk about here = go up via Fraughan Glen and come down via zig zags as in this link:

https://wildsummits.ie/lugnaquilla-the-ultimate-hiking-guide/

EDIT: I see the zig zag route is closed now due to assault on landowner

Esel

That's it alright. You could descend by reversing the ascent route if you are worried about meeting the farmer at the bottom of the zig-zags.

Just read about the closure of the zig-zags. That's a shame.

Up and down via FR glen would be a great hike, and bonus no road walking back to the car park.

Edit: Clickable link

https://wildsummits.ie/lugnaquilla-the-ultimate-hiking-guide/

Esel

Probably available in Great Outdoors, 53⁰ North, maybe Easons or other large book shops.

Haven't physically seen either, but would be inclined towards the EW one for the amazing amount of detail

OSI 1:25000 Map €14 waterproof version

https://store.osi.ie/wicklow-central-lugnaquillia-glendalough-and-the-devils-glen.html?#description

EastWest Mapping €24 waterproof version

https://eastwestmapping.ie/product/lugnaquilla-glendalough-encapsulated/

Esel

If the weather is too bad for the summit, Art's Lough is very impressive.

Bit of zig-zagging on the steep slopes up from the FR Glen!

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122760151#Comment_122760151

Where is arts Lough on below picture, over in the middle left?

Esel

More top left in the aspect of that shot, underneath Lug, with steep ground above the lake and about level with the third insert pic on the Lug route.

You can see Art's Lough on the OS map below, near height point 511m.

So if heading for the Lough, veer off left from the Lug route somewhere around height point 303m. There is probably a visible track, but that is a guess!

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122758524#Comment_122758524

The articles I found on the zig zag route being closed are from March 2023, so well over a year and a half ago, I wonder has anything changed since

myfreespirit

Was in the Glenmalure Lodge about a month ago, and saw a sign saying "the zig-zag route is permanently closed"

So, it appears the farmer who was assaulted will not allow walkers on his land anymore.

It's a great shame, as it was a pleasant enough route off Lugnaquila, but who could blame him after his experience.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122762948#Comment_122762948

Thank you, that is fair enough, don't blame the farmer one bit.

The actions of that g0bh1te assaulting the farmer have ruined it for all of us. What an idiot.

Yintang

There's a lovely route from Drumgoff recreation area too, through the forest, past an air crash site and nice gradual approach to Lug. You should find it on the Hiiker app and on the East West map. About 18km and approx 680m elevation in total.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122769237#Comment_122769237

Just seen the below. Does this mean that the mountain cannot be hiked from Fenton’s pub tomorrow

artanevilla

Bit late but yes, that way is closed when the range is active.

obi604

rang the military office and asked during their activities if they are only around glen of immal side or all over………………. and they said all over.

did the hike last Friday 1st Nov.

did if from fentons pub, which by the way looks completely run down, very depressing looking. took just over 2 hours to climb, visibility at top was about 5 metres, very eerie up there. Fairly straight forward hike up camera hill and onwards, no danger as in cliffs or dodgy bits. met no one for first 1 hour and 58 mins, then met about 10 at top appearing out of the fog/haze.

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122813032#Comment_122813032

'All over' where exactly?

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814419#Comment_122814419

he said Fenton’s pub route closed and then I asked about Baravore car park/Fraughan glen route and he said Closed. And then he just said the whole mountain is off limits during the military exercises.