West Wicklow ways

The area southwest of the Wicklow Gap offers high level walking in wonderful scenery, writes Brendan Bracken

WEST WICKLOW tends to be overlooked by hill walkers despite its easy accessibility. Certainly, it has a feeling of remoteness not found in the valleys and hills of the eastern part of the county. No better example of this is the country southwest of the Wicklow Gap encompassing Corriebracks Mountain, Lobawn, Cavanagh’s Gap, Table Mountain and Glen of Imaal.

The first two-thirds of this 15km walk takes in a number of peaks before swinging back southwest, followed by a gradual descent on Table Track into the Glen of Imaal. Much of the walk covers rough wet ground with plenty of streams and peat hags to test the energy levels. This is more than compensated for by the pleasures of a high level walk in wonderful scenery.

As the walk starts and finishes in different locations, two cars will be required. Alternatively, you can arrange to be collected in the Glen of Imaal at the finish and returned to the start. Allow 40 minutes for transfer time.

The walk starts 2.6km down a narrow road at the first entrance to the forest at Corriebracks Mountain. Follow the path which winds gradually upwards and after 10 minutes ascend a steep bank and follow an overgrown trail that brings you parallel to the forest path you have just walked. After five minutes the track ends and you turn left, in a westerly direction, through rough ground towards a forest.

After 10 minutes you will come to a barbed wire fence, take a turn to the left uphill and continue until you come to an area where tree felling has recently taken place. Cross a fence at the end of the plantation and head west until you meet a large turf bank. You are now on open mountain and take the adjoining bog road which leads to the top of Corriebracks Mountain.

From Corriebracks, a featureless hill with no distinct summit, head south for 2km towards the tree line which leads to Lobawn. On the way, you pass a memorial to four people killed in an air crash in 2008.

With the Blessington Lakes behind you and the bulk of the mountain range opening up ahead, this section of the walk shows off Wicklow at its finest. You are now heading towards the “Mountains of the Faragurtha” or the féar gorthach – the hungry grass, as described by JB Malone in Walking in Wicklow. Legend has it that the grass covers the unmarked graves of famine victims and causes extreme hunger followed by death to the foot traveller who traverses the area. The cure is to carry a piece of soda bread.

Follow the tree line on to a spur and then turn left for the summit. Lobawn is a fine peak marked with a British Army War Department granite pillar, a throwback to the time when it had a military camp in Glen of Imaal. From here descend east for 1km to reach Cavanagh’s Gap.

Cavanagh’s Gap is a good place to stop for lunch. A slight distraction was provided on the day by the sight of a stag with his pack of hinds getting ready for the rutting season. You can’t stop romance!

The middle section of the hike takes about two hours and covers 4km over soft ground gradually ascending via a number of rounded hills to Table Mountain which, at 705 meters, is the highest point of the hike. The views on this stretch of the walk are magnificent. On the left stands Three Lakes, Turlough Hill, Camaderry as far as Tonelagee. Ahead is the massive bulk of Lugnaquilla with the Glen of Imaal falling away to your left.

From Table Mountain descend through peat hags to Stony Top, which marks the gap between Glenmalure and the Glen of Imaal and the final third of this walk. Both have marked paths that descend southeast to the ford at Barravore or southwest to Knickeen Ford in the Glen of Imaal.

Take the southwestern route along the old military road that winds it way southwestward down through open country shaped like a giant bowl. Eventually you reach a forest track that winds its way southwards and brings you to Knickeen Ford to collect your car or meet your lift.

Mountains of the Faragurtha

MapOrdnance Survey Discovery Series. Sheet 56.

StartEntrance to forest with a red barrier N 974,017.

FinishKnickeen Ford at entrance to forest N 983,949.

Get thereFrom the east take the M50 to Kilmacanogue. Cross the flyover on to the R755 towards Glendalough. Turn right beyond Laragh on to the R756 towards Wicklow Gap. After 21km cross over Kings River and take the second turn on the left L8349. Follow a narrow road for 2.6km and park at a wide forest entrance with a red barrier. From the west, take the N81, turn left on to the R756 towards Hollywood, drive for 4km and turn right on to L8349 and proceed as above.

TimeSix hours.

Distance15km.

SuitabilityFor experienced walkers with lots of stamina. Bring map, compass and rain gear.

Food/accommodationFenton's Pub, Glen of Imaal.