Get Lost Mountaineering

Hungry Hill & Maulin from Gortagoulane, near Castletown

Start/Finish

From Killarney, take the N71 road to Kenmare then the R571 to Lauragh where the R574 over the scenic Healy Pass is taken to Adrigole. From here follow the R572 W for about 5 miles to a prominent church on the right of the road at W 742 472. Turn around here and take the first left and follow the minor road up towards Park Lough. The tarmac road ends at a gate so turn round and retrace to the nearest sensible parking space – there are not many places to park but lots of notices saying where not to park!

Distance/Time

14 km      About 8 hours

Peaks

Hungry Hill, 682 m, V 761 697 (Irish National Grid System)

Knockagree, 586 m, V 727 505.

Maulin, 621 m, V 713 505. Irish OS Discovery Series Map 84 (1:50000)

Introduction

This is a tough round but there are stunning views especially of the Beara coast and the Tooth Mountain range. Choose a clear day as navigation will be very difficult in mist.

Route

(1) From the start described above, walk up the road and through the gate on to the track. Soon encounter way marked posts (in yellow) for the Beara Way. Leave the track and follow these E for a short distance before starting the ascent of Hungry Hill. This is quite steep but not too steep. There is no obvious path so one weaves around up the grassy ramps between the crags. No scrambling skills are needed. Eventually, the angle eases and the summit crest is reached which is grassy and boggy. Cross this, probably heading N, to reach the trig point which marks the summit of Hungry Hill, 682 m. There is a cairn nearby and a shelter wall. On a shoulder of the S Top (the summit is the N Top) is a very large cairn.

(2) The continuation to Knockagree is hard going. From the summit, head initially NW then W along a boggy and undulating ridge with many outcrops. Aim for the Glas Loughs and pass them on their S side before heading W then N up grassy and rocky slopes to reach a small cairn which marks the summit of Knockagree, 586 m. Just after the Glas Loughs, the top of the track, coming from the church, may be crossed.

(3) Descend NNW from Knockagree aiming for the small unnamed lough at about V 722 511. In clear weather, an easy grassy ramp will be seen on the left which can be used. Pass the lough on its S side then pick a way Sw up the mainly grassy slopes of Maulin to reach its wet and grassy summit plateau where there is a small quartzite cairn which marks the summit of Maulin, 621 m.

(4) Descend down the broad S ridge before drifting SE to pick up the grassy track and follow it down to pick up the Beara Way (yellow posts). These can be followed back to the track past Park Lough. When the Beara Way leaves the track, stay on it to reach the road used at the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 14^th September, 2012.

(b) Using two cars could save about an hour of walking and avoid using the Beara Way at the end.

(c) The Fossa camp and caravan site, at V 910 923 is very good and very well situated for the Killarney mountains, especially Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain as it is only about 3 miles from Kate Kearney's Cottage. At Fossa, there are camping and caravanning facilities as well as a hostel and static trailer vans can also be hired. For campers, there are excellent showers (small extra charge) and there is a good campers’ kitchen with tables, sinks and cooking area if you have your own cooker and pans. Gas rings are available (small extra charge). There is also a TV room. Reception is open quite late in the high season and the staff are very helpful. A computer is available for hire and there is a freezer in reception. There is a bus stop outside the site for Killarney. There is a 24 hour Tesco which is off the northern bypass (turn right at 4^th roundabout then right at next). Out of high season, it can be better for 2 people to rent a trailer van than to camp separately.