Mountain with kids

obi604 · 06-05-2021 2:44pm #1

Can anyone recommend a hill/mountain to climb with a 5 and 7 year old in Waterford.

Have done the hike just to the lake at Counshingaum, dont want to venture any higher just yet as not too safe with small kids.

They are used to climbing, have done hills over 500 metres - Diamond Hill in Galway, Moylussa in Clare etc.

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2021 2:49pm

obi604 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a hill/mountain to climb with a 5 and 7 year old in Waterford.

Have done the hike just to the lake at Counshingaum, dont want to venture any higher just yet as not too safe with small kids.

They are used to climbing, have done hills over 500 metres - Diamond Hill in Galway, Moylussa in Clare etc.

mohra

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Lough+Mohra/@52.2966855,-7.584624,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48432f5061f093bd:0x2dad3fa673a93e6e!8m2!3d52.2968331!4d-7.5822675?hl=en&authuser=0

probably the easiest walk in the mountains, easier than counshingaum, you can even drive to within a few meters of the lake, but id recommend the walk. i ll have a think about other walks, and get back to you

obi604 · 06-05-2021 2:51pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

mohra

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Lough+Mohra/@52.2966855,-7.584624,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48432f5061f093bd:0x2dad3fa673a93e6e!8m2!3d52.2968331!4d-7.5822675?hl=en&authuser=0

probably the easiest walk in the mountains, easier than counshingaum, you can even drive to within a few meters of the lake, but id recommend the walk. i ll have a think about other walks, and get back to you

Thanks. Should have added, the kids love the whole achievement thing, I.e. getting to the top of something, if it’s a walk without a summit, they don’t really like it

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2021 2:57pm

obi604 wrote: »

Thanks. Should have added, the kids love the whole achievement thing, I.e. getting to the top of something, if it’s a walk without a summit, they don’t really like it

mohra is stunning, you could bring them up the ridge of knockanaffrin, right hand side of lake, but pull over the top of the lake, going to the left, towards the gap. just be extremely careful, the top can be extremely dangerous under certain conditions, stunning this time of year though, views are stunning. i ll try post pics when i get a chance

BBM77 · 06-05-2021 3:04pm

obi604 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a hill/mountain to climb with a 5 and 7 year old in Waterford.

Have done the hike just to the lake at Counshingaum, dont want to venture any higher just yet as not too safe with small kids.

They are used to climbing, have done hills over 500 metres - Diamond Hill in Galway, Moylussa in Clare etc.

Slievenamon is suitable for kids. No big cliffs and a clear path to follow. Handy enough drive from Waterford also.

obi604 · 06-05-2021 3:12pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

mohra is stunning, you could bring them up the ridge of knockanaffrin, right hand side of lake, but pull over the top of the lake, going to the left, towards the gap. just be extremely careful, the top can be extremely dangerous under certain conditions, stunning this time of year though, views are stunning. i ll try post pics when i get a chance

Does Mohra have a summit/top? Or is it just a walk more so than a climb.

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2021 4:23pm

obi604 wrote: »

Does Mohra have a summit/top? Or is it just a walk more so than a climb.

some pics from the tinternets, loads out there

as you can see from the pics, mohra is overlooked by knockanaffrin ridge, you can access the ridge from the lake, best to do so from the right hand side of the lake, and walk towards the gap(to the left), just be very careful on top of the ridge, it can be very dangerous

obi604 · 06-05-2021 4:46pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

mohra is stunning, you could bring them up the ridge of knockanaffrin, right hand side of lake, but pull over the top of the lake, going to the left, towards the gap. just be extremely careful, the top can be extremely dangerous under certain conditions, stunning this time of year though, views are stunning. i ll try post pics when i get a chance

Would it be safe enough for kids?

Dunmoreroader · 06-05-2021 4:52pm

obi604 wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a hill/mountain to climb with a 5 and 7 year old in Waterford.

Have done the hike just to the lake at Counshingaum, dont want to venture any higher just yet as not too safe with small kids.

They are used to climbing, have done hills over 500 metres - Diamond Hill in Galway, Moylussa in Clare etc.

Tory Hill, Minaun Hill.

Wanderer78 · 06-05-2021 5:33pm

obi604 wrote: »

Would it be safe enough for kids?

the walk to the lake would be perfectly safe for kids, as its largely forest fire roads, with the last 100 meters or less relatively rough, the walk up onto the ridge is tough enough, even for us adults, but you can gage that yourself, when there. the walk across the ridge is probably not ideal for kids, you may have to gage that yourself, with or without the kids. ive a couple of other ideas, i ll get back to you

noby · 06-05-2021 5:36pm

Cruachán.

Or, if that's too easy, head up the opposite direction from the car park (north), straight up will get you to a donut with tv masts, or up and east to farbreaga.

Mulbert · 06-05-2021 5:40pm

Dunmoreroader wrote: »

Tory Hill, Minaun Hill.

I walked up Tory Hill with a six year old. So can second that.

Wanderer78 · 07-05-2021 6:57pm

the boolas and coumduala are other marked trails, mohra is also marked, maps link below is the trail head, its private land, but theres public right of way, and enough spaces for a few cars to park

https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/109183618861355293989/place/ChIJP_-Z2VonQ0gRvTmr4UibGgg/@52.2899957,-7.5566946,15z/data=!4m6!1m5!8m4!1e2!2s109183618861355293989!3m1!1e1

nire valley car park is also a trail head for a couple of marked trails, sgilloges, across knockanaffrin ridge and towards the gap

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Nire+Valley+Car+Park/@52.266555,-7.6024637,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48432595fb571bff:0xba4fd915f1a19b50!8m2!3d52.26701!4d-7.59598?hl=en&authuser=0

mohra trail head

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.3137687,-7.5832309,3a,75y,204.41h,97.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMWz_1Pv1bWPZXCAg5ihfqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

just park the car there, and follow the sign posts all the way to the lake, just be aware, that area looks very different now, compared to google maps, as its very over grown

obi604 · 07-05-2021 11:15pm

BBM77 wrote: »

Slievenamon is suitable for kids. No big cliffs and a clear path to follow. Handy enough drive from Waterford also.

Hi, for Slievenamon, I checked it out on mountainviews.ie and there seems to be about 4 different climbs - notch east, with east, south etc.

Which one did you do?

obi604 · 07-05-2021 11:17pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

mohra is stunning, you could bring them up the ridge of knockanaffrin, right hand side of lake, but pull over the top of the lake, going to the left, towards the gap. just be extremely careful, the top can be extremely dangerous under certain conditions, stunning this time of year though, views are stunning. i ll try post pics when i get a chance

Just on this. Is the name of the actual hill you climb equal to knockanaffrin? And Mohra is just the name of the lake beside it?

How long does it take to walk to the lake?

StringerBell · 08-05-2021 9:48am

obi604 wrote: »

Just on this. Is the name of the actual hill you climb equal to knockanaffrin? And Mohra is just the name of the lake beside it?

How long does it take to walk to the lake?

I was actually up at Mohra yesterday, takes about 45 minutes from bottom to top (about 460m elevation) if you cut across a couple of loops and go straight to the lake, could take anything from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours if you do the loops/amble along.

The name of the hill I'm not actually certain, the entrance to the trail is called glenpatrick woods though I think.

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 10:10am

StringerBell wrote: »

I was actually up at Mohra yesterday, takes about 45 minutes from bottom to top (about 460m elevation) if you cut across a couple of loops and go straight to the lake, could take anything from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours if you do the loops/amble along.

The name of the hill I'm not actually certain, the entrance to the trail is called glenpatrick woods though I think.

the hill overlooking lake mohra is called knockanaffrin ridge, can be dodgy enough on the ridge to be honest, particularly in inclement weather, the ground is fairly uneven up there, with hidden holes and rocks, easy enough to snap an ankle. think you re right about the name of the woods, the woods alone are stunning to wonder around in, some amazing views of the mountains in sections of them.

many about yesterday on the mountains?

obi604 · 08-05-2021 10:17am

StringerBell wrote: »

I was actually up at Mohra yesterday, takes about 45 minutes from bottom to top (about 460m elevation) if you cut across a couple of loops and go straight to the lake, could take anything from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours if you do the loops/amble along.

The name of the hill I'm not actually certain, the entrance to the trail is called glenpatrick woods though I think.

Hi. So from where you park the car to the lake area, how long is this walk?

Are you saying from lake area to climb the ridge can take form 90 mins to 2.5 hours?

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 10:37am

obi604 wrote: »

Hi. So from where you park the car to the lake area, how long is this walk?

Are you saying from lake area to climb the ridge can take form 90 mins to 2.5 hours?

the internets says 1hr 15 round trip, from trail head to lake only

https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/lough-mohra-loop

but id recommend to factor in longer, as it obviously all depends on pace, and take your time to look around, its worth it.

the ridge is not officially a part of the walk, and to be honest, im not sure id recommend it just yet, but you can be the judge of that when there

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 10:46am

obi604 wrote: »

Hi. So from where you park the car to the lake area, how long is this walk?

Are you saying from lake area to climb the ridge can take form 90 mins to 2.5 hours?

the last time i done mohra, it took me the bones of an hour to get from the trail head to the lake, but conditions were very bad, snow and ice, and i was stopping regularly to take pics

i took me the bones of an hour and a half to cross the ridge from mohra, under extremely dangerous conditions, coming off the ridge, just shy of coumduala lake, i didnt go to this lake, as conditions were just too dangerous, and i was losing light

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 10:58am

unfortunately, boards isnt allowing me to upload the data from my fitness band from my previous walk of mohra and the ridge, i ll try again later

obi604 · 08-05-2021 11:21am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

the last time i done mohra, it took me the bones of an hour to get from the trail head to the lake, but conditions were very bad, snow and ice, and i was stopping regularly to take pics

i took me the bones of an hour and a half to cross the ridge from mohra, under extremely dangerous conditions, coming off the ridge, just shy of coumduala lake, i didnt go to this lake, as conditions were just too dangerous, and i was losing light

Thanks.

So essentially to get to the lake/base of the mountain takes about an hour alone.

And the you have to start the climb at this point.

Maybe the trek up to the lake may be enough for now as it sounds dangerous on the ridge.

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 11:30am

obi604 wrote: »

Thanks.

So essentially to get to the lake/base of the mountain takes about an hour alone.

And the you have to start the climb at this point.

Maybe the trek up to the lake may be enough for now as it sounds dangerous on the ridge.

yea the climb from the trail head to the lake really shouldnt take you the hour at all, but do take your time doing so, the scenery is worth the time.

you re climbing all the time from the trail head, just that its on well marked, reasonably maintained fire roads, most of the way up to the lake. the climb from the lake up onto and across the ridge is not marked, not a part of the official trail, and yes, can be very dangerous under certain conditions, again, id recommend just stick to the official marked trail to and from the lake for now. the trail head is at sea level, but the lake itself is at almost 500 meter altitude, so you still have to climb that to get to the lake itself, primarily on fire roads.

obi604 · 08-05-2021 4:45pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

yea the climb from the trail head to the lake really shouldnt take you the hour at all, but do take your time doing so, the scenery is worth the time.

you re climbing all the time from the trail head, just that its on well marked, reasonably maintained fire roads, most of the way up to the lake. the climb from the lake up onto and across the ridge is not marked, not a part of the official trail, and yes, can be very dangerous under certain conditions, again, id recommend just stick to the official marked trail to and from the lake for now. the trail head is at sea level, but the lake itself is at almost 500 meter altitude, so you still have to climb that to get to the lake itself, primarily on fire roads.

Thanks. I may just do the walk up to the lake for now. Especially with the 7 year old. Can have a gander and see how it looks. Might try a small bit of the climb but may not venture too far.

Wanderer78 · 08-05-2021 5:04pm

obi604 wrote: »

Thanks. I may just do the walk up to the lake for now. Especially with the 7 year old. Can have a gander and see how it looks. Might try a small bit of the climb but may not venture too far.

no harm in having a peak of the ridge, and maybe not venture too far, nice view into the nire valley from there, just scale the righthand side of the lake, you ll probably see trails as you climb from other walkers and animals, just follow those up

StringerBell · 08-05-2021 6:46pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

the hill overlooking lake mohra is called knockanaffrin ridge, can be dodgy enough on the ridge to be honest, particularly in inclement weather, the ground is fairly uneven up there, with hidden holes and rocks, easy enough to snap an ankle. think you re right about the name of the woods, the woods alone are stunning to wonder around in, some amazing views of the mountains in sections of them.

many about yesterday on the mountains?

Nope, we ran into one older man out for a solo trek and didn't hear or see sight of another person which was bliss

Just the sounds of nature, the views were spectacular too. I had an 11 year old and an 8 year old with me, no bother to them.

StringerBell · 08-05-2021 6:53pm

obi604 wrote: »

Hi. So from where you park the car to the lake area, how long is this walk?

Are you saying from lake area to climb the ridge can take form 90 mins to 2.5 hours?

No, from where I parked to the lake was about 50 minutes in total, we did stop to take some pics but didn't stick to a loop trail either, cut across the fire roads in a more direct line to make good time - its hard to explain. I'm pretty sure the trail head advises 2.5 hours if you follow the red signs and maybe 1.5 hours on the blue (not sure exactly tbh) Took 35 minutes going back down from the lake, didn't really stop and its all downhill so be out pretty quick. Terrain is fairly good, some rough patches and if you were going up after some poor weather I would take your time and take more care.

I had my kids with me and didn't go up the ridge this time but you'd be up it quick enough if you did fancy it - just loop around from the right of the lake, its nice but as the other poster mentioned it can be a bit dodgy and you would have to make the call yourself really on the day.

Yellow_Fern · 09-05-2021 11:06am

Harristown is a great short walk when there is clear weather

obi604 · 24-02-2022 8:09am

Any other recommendations?

obi604 · 24-02-2022 8:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117111646#Comment_117111646

It’s hard to get a panoramic view from Google of lough mohra and the ridge. see attached. I presume you mean start the climb of the ridge from somewhere right of where my arrow is pointing?

also, to climb the ridge from the lake, roughly how long would it take.

FishOnABike · 24-02-2022 8:41am

Track to the turf cutters cottage in the Black stairs - you could head to Mount Leinster East Top or Black Rock Mountain if you want to make it slightly longer. https://my.viewranger.com/route/details/ODI2NDg=

The Vee (Bay Lough carpark) to Sugarloaf Hill in the Knockmealdows, about 1km and 300m ascent to the top.

Wanderer78 · 24-02-2022 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118683055#Comment_118683055

yea, pop up onto the ridge there, just right of the lake, you ll find some animal trails along there somewhere. time depends on yourself, but its a very short pull up, but can be a little intense, if you re not use to hill walking. i was up there last year during the snow, so conditions were difficult, it took me longer than normal, but id say i was up there within 15mins or less, got a bit windy on top also. i traversed across the ridge then, towards coumduala lake and the gap, in extremely dangerous conditions, this is a lovely walk in good conditions, just be careful on top, theres a rocky outcrop, and it can be easy to snap an ankle there. you can come off the ridge, head towards coumduala and the gap area, or swing back towards mohra direction, undercutting the lake, theres a lovely forest just below mohra, and depending where you parked, can lead you back to the car

obi604 · 25-02-2022 12:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118683975#Comment_118683975

Ah ok. thanks. I was thinking it would take an hour to get up. Hard to gauge this from a picture.

when you say ‘ridge’, do you mean climbing to the highest point you can see in the above picture I attached.

Wanderer78 · 25-02-2022 11:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118688637#Comment_118688637

yea pics can be very deceiving, not at all, its a very short climb, you d be up there in a few mins, if it takes you an hour, you probably shouldnt be on the mountains.

yea, the ridge you see in the pic is known as knockanaffrin ridge, this over looks mohra and goes out left towards the gap

i ll try capture my gps map of the last time i was up there, it might give you an idea of a route in which i like in that area, it normally takes a few hours to do, i know i also have a few pics from that day, but the weather conditions were atrocious

obi604 · 17-04-2022 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118690072#Comment_118690072

when you climb up the ridge from the right of the lake, do you come down the ridge the same way or is there a different way down, aim would be to get down to lough mohra lake again

obi604 · 31-12-2023 9:51am

Still have not done this but thinking of it over next few days. Since this kids have done Galtybeg, galtymore, sugar loaf, Knockmealdowns, Blackstairs and a few more.

to get to Lough Moura, where do you park to get to this in the quickest time?

FishOnABike · 31-12-2023 11:00am

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mw64kVch6vpickB1A is probably the handiest spot to park. Follow forrest trail to end, over the style and continue over hillside to the lake. Going can be very soft / boggy underfoot, especially after all the recent rain.

obi604 · 31-12-2023 11:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553089#Comment_121553089

thank you!!

how far of a walk from here to lough mohra?

FishOnABike · 31-12-2023 12:10pm

Loop to the lake and back is just over 6.5km, all trails says it should take 2 hours.

A longer walk, past the old scout hut, direct onto Knockanaifreann Ridge (can be overgrown with high ferns / bracken) and descending (steeply) west of loch mhora to rejoin the looped walk to the lake should take about three and a half hours.

Another alternative is to follow the trail route towards Lough mhora, go up the ridge east of Lough mhora onto Knocanaifreann ridge and descend (steeply) west of Lough mhora to rejoin the loop walk to the lake. It should also take about three and a half hours.

obi604 · 01-01-2024 9:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553269#Comment_121553269

nice one. Thanks for the good info

obi604 · 06-01-2024 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121553269#Comment_121553269

Me again. If you were to climb to the top or knockanaffrin - is there a direct path from here to the Nire valley car park?

Wanderer78 · 06-01-2024 4:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121578938#Comment_121578938

if you make your way across knockanaffrin ridge from lough mohra towards the vee(the gap), theres pathways to the nire valley car park from there, but i personally wouldnt recommend this though, especially with kids, the ridge can be dodgy enough this time of year, especially when snow covered, very easy to snap an ankle in those conditions. id personally just recommend staying on or close to the mark trails, until you familiarise yourself without the kids, then bring them. im pretty sure the paths are marked from the gap to the nire valley car park, but definitely arent marked going across the ridge

FishOnABike · 06-01-2024 4:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121578938#Comment_121578938

You could continue along Knockanaffrinn Ridge to the top above Coumduala Lough (52.279093,-7.573912) and then follow the wall / track SW to join the trail west of the Nire valley car park.

Slightly longer would be to continue along Knockanaffrinn Ridge to the Gap and then follow the trail back to the Nire valley car park.

obi604 · 06-01-2024 8:40pm

Did this today in a slightly different way, Shagged now ;)

parked at nire valley car park and did the Coumduala Loop, at the Coumduala lake viewing point, we headed up and made it to the top of knockanafrinn, probably about 40 mins up from the lake viewing point

then came back again to the Coumduala lake viewing point and took a right and followed the trail back to the car park.

In hindsight and to have saved time we did not need to do the entire loop, we could have headed straight for “the gap” or taken the left route to the Coumduala lake viewing point (from Nire Valley car park)

but we got there. Will have to try it from Lough Mohra side some other day.

Wanderer78 · 07-01-2024 8:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121580326#Comment_121580326

ah shur no harm done, at least you re more familiar with the place now, it ll make future walks safer, great to see you and your kids getting out and about

obi604 · 07-01-2024 8:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121581551#Comment_121581551

true. Am more familiar now. And as I said could have done it quicker if needed.

thanks to you and @FishOnABike for all the helpful advise.

Mountain with kids

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