Wet, exposed terrain with fine lake views

LUGNAGUN, Co WICKLOW:Bring your raingear for this walk up Sorrel Hill, writes JACINTA MOORE

THIS IS A lovely long ridge walk with great views west over the Blessington lakes and south to Sorrel Hill, Black Hill and Moanbane.

To get to the start of the walk take the Blessington to Lackan road. Cross the bridge over the reservoir and turn right. Follow the main road for approximately one kilometre and turn right for Lackan. Take the next turn left at Carrig on OS 56.

Continue uphill for about one kilometre until you see the forestry entrance on your left. There is parking for about four cars at the entrance, but don’t block the gate.

Head up the forestry track which passes a recently clear-cut area. Continue uphill until you come to the first standing trees. Turn left up onto a bank and follow the track uphill crossing another forestry road further up. Continue up the bank until you come to a stile set into the fence. Cross the fence and turn right.

The trail is quite wet in places along the Lugnagun ridge, but when you reach the point on the ridge where the forestry ends, look to your right for fine views of the Blessington Reservoir and beyond. The Blessington Lakes were created when the waterfall at Poulaphuca on the River Liffey was dammed by the ESB in 1959 for a hydroelectric plant which is still in use today.

The valley was flooded and the resulting lakes extend over approximately 5,000 acres. A small village was submerged by the dam and the remains of roads can still be seen leading down into the lake. In addition, the reservoir provides water for the locality and the Dublin region, as well as providing a leisure resource.

Head straight on in an easterly direction towards your main objective by following the bog track leading to the summit of Sorrel, and enjoy the great views of Black Hill and Moanbane. When you reach the summit, which could take 30-40 minutes, there is a big mound of rocks where, on a good day, you can stop for lunch.

Head northwest from the summit and downhill towards the Woodend forest. There is no defined track on this section of the walk. However, head for a track which runs parallel to the forest where the going eases. On reaching the track, turn left. Note that there are three breaks in the tree line to the right.

After about 20 minutes, you turn right at the third break. Crossing the broken wire fence, you encounter very wet terrain. After a few minutes you should reach a forestry road. Go left and follow the road down.

Follow the main track when it turns left, ignoring the track that goes straight ahead. At the T junction, go left to a dead end. Head into the forest to the right to gain access to open ground. Lugnagun Ridge is now in front of you. You will see a hedge planted in a square (why, I do not know), near a farmhouse.

Go uphill to the left of this area and pick up a sheep track heading at an angle to the right of the ridge. Follow this and you will arrive at the stile you encountered earlier in the day. Retrace your steps back to your car at the forest entrance.

For a longer walk, leave a car at the entrance to Woodend Forest. When you get to the T junction, go right and follow the track all the way to a forestry barrier. Continue along the track to where your car is parked. This could add about 40 minutes onto the main walk.

Start and finishForest entrance or forest entrance at Woodend.

How to get there1km off the Blessington-Lackan road.

DistanceEight kilometres for the short walk, 10.5km for the longer version.

TimeThree to three-and-a-half hours, depending on fitness level.

MapOrdnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series sheet 56.

SuitabilityAs terrain can be exposed, map and good rain gear are essential.

RefreshmentsBlessington.