The 'Lug Walk' is an Irish long-distance walk from Stone Cross(O:075227), Ballinascorney, Co.Dublin, over the mountain tops to Lugnaquilla Mountain, ending at the foot of Camara Hill (S:984929) in the Glen of Imaal, Co.Wicklow. It is an established route, 33 miles long, with a total ascent of almost 2500 metres, and covers 16 peaks. As it is mainly over open mountain terrain it is a test of navigatational skills as well as stamina. The average time taken to cover the route is 15 hours.
Note: The route, especially the starting area, can change from time to time on the official walk.
(1) From the Stone Cross (O:075227) walk to the left for 2.7km until you reach the second forest entrance at the crest of the road.
(2) Walk up the forest road, bypassing another road which turns right, and continue to the end of the track. Note: before continuing to the end you may be directed up to Seahan via a firebreak on the right. If not, then take the firebreak on the right at the end which leads up to a track flanking Ballymorefinn Hill.
(3) Turn right and continue upwards until you reach Seahan (648m) with its trig pillar and megalithic tomb.
(4) 118 degrees from here brings you to Corrig Mountain (618m), from where Seefingan (724m) can be reached on 198 degrees. A military sign marks the top, but there is a large megalithic tomb 250m to the west (278 degrees).
(5) Back at the military sign, follow a narrow ditch, on 132 degrees, through a large area of unpleasant eroded bog and on to spot height 679. 114 degrees will then lead to Kippure (757m) with its large T.V. mast.
(6) Walk down the tarmac to the metal fencing on your right. Step through a gap and make your way, on 150 degrees, down to the River Liffey and on to the Military Road.
(7) Turn right and proceed to the Sally Gap crossroads (O:130110). Turning right again, then left accross the ditch at a small granite boulder. Ten paces further on a small track begins which leads all the way to the top of Carrigvore (682), on 222 degrees.
(8) From Carrigvore meander down a small track alongside a ditch, on 236 degrees, to a coll. From here cross some wet ground and then up, on 272 degrees, alongside another ditch to the cairn on Gravale (718m).
(9) It's now 216 degrees to the next coll and 254 degrees to Duff Hill (720m).
(10) On 238 degrees connect up with a track leading to the next boggy coll. Then carefully make your way, on 218 degrees, to Mullaghcleevaun East Top (790m) with its boulders and cairn.
(11) From East Top 300 degrees leads to a broad boggy coll from where Mullaghcleevaun (849m), with its trig pillar, can be reached on 286 degrees.
(12) Walk now down through some very boggy terrain, on 158 degrees, until you meet the narrow but fast flowing Glenmacnass River. Follow the river to the left until just before the ground, and river, begin to drop sharply. Cross over here and then up the bank and over the fence at a stile. Contour southerly, on 184 degrees, along the green edge of the Barnacullian bog, and carefully cross a small rocky water gully. Continue along the edge of the bog until progress is hindered by a turf bank. Turning right 166 degrees should bring you along the flanks of Barnacullian and down to an eroded boggy coll, from where 184 degrees will bring you to spot height 714 (Stony Top).
(13) Two bearings will bring you to Tonelegee (817m); 160 degrees down to the next coll and up to a prominent standing-stone, then 198 degrees to the summit cairn and trig pillar.
(14) Head now, on 256 degrees, for some rocks 100m distant, then 212 degrees on to the Wicklow Gap.
(15) From the Wicklow Gap walk upwards on the tarmac road to Turlough Hill. Turn right at the top of the road along a stony track leading to the upper edge of a quarry (681m). Careful navigation, on 298 degrees, will bring you down through some badly eroded and sometimes treacherous bog, and upwards through rough terrain to the elusive Lough Firrib.
(16) Crossing the lough at its western outlet, head towards spot height 702 on 224 degrees, and from there upwards to Conavalla (734m) on 214 degrees.
(17) 260 degrees from here will bring you down to the infant Avonbeg river. Resuming the same bearing you will encounter Table Track eventually. Turning right follow the track until the metal pole at Table Pass is reached. 170 degrees upwards will find you at Camenabologue (758m) with its cairn.
(18) From Camenabologue head off on 156 degrees until you meet a track running alongside a ditch. This track crosses the ditch shortly and leads downwards and across the glen to a rising rocky outcrop (712m). Shortly afterwards the long slow trek up the side of Cannow, on 192 degrees, begins. A small pile of stones indicates the crest of Cannow.
(19) 154 degrees, for 600m, will place you near the corner of the North Prison (be careful of the steep slope to the right). Walking now on 204 degrees you will soon find yourself at the biggest cairn (with trig pillar) in Co.Wicklow, indicating the tallest mountain in the county, Lugnaquilla (925m).
(20) Head downwards now for about 700m, on 276 degrees, until you encounter the beginning of a descending boulder field. Continue down on 254 degrees until the terrain begins to level out at an oftimes wettish area. 300 degrees will now bring you along a track to the last hill of the day, Camara Hill (480m). Continuing downwards and along a tarmac road the finish of the walk is soon reached at Fenton's pub, where a pint or two will soon soothe the pains of a long and arduous day!
(Magnetic variation of +8 degrees included in calculations - change this in accordance with the current variation)
Tom Milligan
Email: tomilligan@eircom.net
Ph: 01- 2883312 or 086-0826857
(1) From the Stone Cross (O:075227) walk to the left for 2.7km until you reach the second forest entrance at the crest of the road.
(2) Walk up the forest road, bypassing another road which turns right, and continue to the end of the track. Note: before continuing to the end you may be directed up to Seahan via a firebreak on the right. If not, then take the firebreak on the right at the end which leads up to a track flanking Ballymorefinn Hill.
(3) Turn right and continue upwards until you reach Seahan (648m) with its trig pillar and megalithic tomb.
(4) 118 degrees from here brings you to Corrig Mountain (618m), from where Seefingan (724m) can be reached on 198 degrees. A military sign marks the top, but there is a large megalithic tomb 250m to the west (278 degrees).
(5) Back at the military sign, follow a narrow ditch, on 132 degrees, through a large area of unpleasant eroded bog and on to spot height 679. 114 degrees will then lead to Kippure (757m) with its large T.V. mast.
(6) Walk down the tarmac to the metal fencing on your right. Step through a gap and make your way, on 150 degrees, down to the River Liffey and on to the Military Road.
(7) Turn right and proceed to the Sally Gap crossroads (O:130110). Turning right again, then left accross the ditch at a small granite boulder. Ten paces further on a small track begins which leads all the way to the top of Carrigvore (682), on 222 degrees.
(8) From Carrigvore meander down a small track alongside a ditch, on 236 degrees, to a coll. From here cross some wet ground and then up, on 272 degrees, alongside another ditch to the cairn on Gravale (718m).
(9) It's now 216 degrees to the next coll and 254 degrees to Duff Hill (720m).
(10) On 238 degrees connect up with a track leading to the next boggy coll. Then carefully make your way, on 218 degrees, to Mullaghcleevaun East Top (790m) with its boulders and cairn.
(11) From East Top 300 degrees leads to a broad boggy coll from where Mullaghcleevaun (849m), with its trig pillar, can be reached on 286 degrees.
(12) Walk now down through some very boggy terrain, on 158 degrees, until you meet the narrow but fast flowing Glenmacnass River. Follow the river to the left until just before the ground, and river, begin to drop sharply. Cross over here and then up the bank and over the fence at a stile. Contour southerly, on 184 degrees, along the green edge of the Barnacullian bog, and carefully cross a small rocky water gully. Continue along the edge of the bog until progress is hindered by a turf bank. Turning right 166 degrees should bring you along the flanks of Barnacullian and down to an eroded boggy coll, from where 184 degrees will bring you to spot height 714 (Stony Top).
(13) Two bearings will bring you to Tonelegee (817m); 160 degrees down to the next coll and up to a prominent standing-stone, then 198 degrees to the summit cairn and trig pillar.
(14) Head now, on 256 degrees, for some rocks 100m distant, then 212 degrees on to the Wicklow Gap.
(15) From the Wicklow Gap walk upwards on the tarmac road to Turlough Hill. Turn right at the top of the road along a stony track leading to the upper edge of a quarry (681m). Careful navigation, on 298 degrees, will bring you down through some badly eroded and sometimes treacherous bog, and upwards through rough terrain to the elusive Lough Firrib.
(16) Crossing the lough at its western outlet, head towards spot height 702 on 224 degrees, and from there upwards to Conavalla (734m) on 214 degrees.
(17) 260 degrees from here will bring you down to the infant Avonbeg river. Resuming the same bearing you will encounter Table Track eventually. Turning right follow the track until the metal pole at Table Pass is reached. 170 degrees upwards will find you at Camenabologue (758m) with its cairn.
(18) From Camenabologue head off on 156 degrees until you meet a track running alongside a ditch. This track crosses the ditch shortly and leads downwards and across the glen to a rising rocky outcrop (712m). Shortly afterwards the long slow trek up the side of Cannow, on 192 degrees, begins. A small pile of stones indicates the crest of Cannow.
(19) 154 degrees, for 600m, will place you near the corner of the North Prison (be careful of the steep slope to the right). Walking now on 204 degrees you will soon find yourself at the biggest cairn (with trig pillar) in Co.Wicklow, indicating the tallest mountain in the county, Lugnaquilla (925m).
(20) Head downwards now for about 700m, on 276 degrees, until you encounter the beginning of a descending boulder field. Continue down on 254 degrees until the terrain begins to level out at an oftimes wettish area. 300 degrees will now bring you along a track to the last hill of the day, Camara Hill (480m). Continuing downwards and along a tarmac road the finish of the walk is soon reached at Fenton's pub, where a pint or two will soon soothe the pains of a long and arduous day!
(Magnetic variation of +8 degrees included in calculations - change this in accordance with the current variation)
Tom Milligan
Email: tomilligan@eircom.net
Ph: 01- 2883312 or 086-0826857
posted by An Duiche at 1:26 PM
