Get Lost Mountaineering

Birreencorragh & Top of Leana Circuit from Clendavoolah Lodge

Start/Finish

Clendavoolaah Lodge is actually a ruin of which not much is left! It is just through the gate at the end of the public road from Keenagh. This minor road is very narrow in places with few passing places. From Newport take the road towards Crossmolina. When it joins the R312, turn left. Reach a crossroads where one turns left for Keenagh. The road to Clendavoolagh Lodge is the second turning on the left. Go through the gate at the end of the tarmac road. Either park immediately on the grass or drive the track and park about 100 m before a cottage at the end of the track. The track is just about driveable but its grass may catch the underneath of your car!

Distance/Time

7 km from the cottage.    About 3 - 4 hours.

Peaks

Birreencorragh, 698 m, G 024 050. (Irish National Grid System)

Irish OS Discovery Maps 23 or 31

A much better map, at a larger scale, is Wild Nephin published by East West Mapping.

Introduction

On a clear day, Birreencorragh is a good viewpoint to Nephin to the east and the Nephin Beg range to the west. This is probably a more pleasing route than the one which uses the Diogan Glen below Birreencorragh and is, essentially, a high level circuit of that glen.

Route

(1) From the cottage, aim for the obvious isolated boulder near the bottom of a slope leading up to the crest of Birreencorragh. There is a vague ridge to begin with then just continue up moderately steep but easy slopes to reach the crest. Turn N and follow the easy crest soon following a fence slightly down the E side. The fence eventually turns E so continue ahead up gentle but stony slopes to reach the summit shelter cairn a few metres before the remains (base only) of the trig point amongst some ground rocks which marks the summit of Birreencorragh, 698 m.

(2) Head SW from the summit down moderately steep stony slopes which soon become grassy and can be followed around the head of the Diogan Glen then up easily onto the grassy Top of Leana. Descend N from here on easy grass, initially following a fence. Continue down until a tributary cuts across the route. This is a good place to cross the main stream although, after heavy rain, it may be necessary to cross higher up. Once across, continue down to the cottage.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 7^th September, 2018.