COMERAGH MTS. (Co. Waterford)
28 August – 31 August 2016
This trip organised and led by Peter McGowan found eleven of us based at the Raheen House Hotel in Clonmel. Our motley mix of B and C Group walkers assembled on the Sunday evening with Ann, Kingsley and Norman joining us from a walking break in Kerry, having completed the Coumloughra Horseshoe Walk in the Macgillycuddy Reeks the previous day! With an outline from Peter of his intended routes and promise of a favourable weather forecast we were all, well nearly all, soon off to bed to ready ourselves for the next day’s exertions.
Monday
The Knockanaffrin Ridge
Peter’s chosen route started from Glenpatrick Forest to the east of the ridge and led up to Lough Mohra, with the fine outline profile of Knockanaffrin ever present in our view, before swinging up moraines on a short but steep climb to gain the ridge. Here a short but rewarding detour up to Knocksheegowna 678m was enjoyed before going up steeply south east to Knockanaffrin 755m, with some invigorating but easy scrambling up through the rocks to the rocky point that marks the high point of the ridge. From here we headed south east over undulating but easy ground to the small but prominent rocky cone of Knockanaffrin South Top 610m which was soon covered by eager Mourne Ramblers seeking to strike the most eye-catching pose for the “paparazzi” down below. To allow for anyone needing to use up an excess of energy Peter suggested, during a break for lunch, that those who felt up to it could take in an extra top before we headed back to the cars. This involved an initial steep climb up from the Comeragh Gap and out to the summit plateau of Carrignagower 767m and then a “bone crunching” descent back down again. Apart from three of us the others took off like a pack of hounds bent on reaching this summit and were not seen again for more than an hour. But what bliss it was to just sit and enjoy the sunshine awaiting their return! Once we had all regathered we followed a long trackless, at times difficult, traverse across the lower slopes of the ridge to re-enter the forest and back to the start. And I must not forget “St. Norman” coming out in his souped-up four wheeled “chariot” to rescue an un-named straggler from the group and bring him swiftly down the forest track to join the others. What a man!!
Tuesday
Circuit of Coumshingaun
Unlike the previous day the higher tops were shrouded in mist and this did not bode well for a walk which Peter had described as the “Jewel in the Crown” for the trip. While we did indeed have thick mist up on the Plateau we were able to enjoy clear views both on the way up and when coming down with intermittent magical glimpses of the grandeur of this fine Corrie and its Lough from the upper rim. However, enough of this blarney let’s get back to the walk. Coumshingaun is regarded by many as the finest example of a Corrie in these islands. Parking at Kilcooney Forest we had no inkling of the magnificent glacial amphitheatre that we would soon be circling. The route up around the south ridge was most invigorating with some mild scrambling in and around a precipitous rock-face. The plunging views down both sides to Lough Coumshingaun on the right and the deep narrow valley of Fauscoum on the opposite side were uninterrupted. Later we climbed into circling and atmospheric mist gathered around the Coum edge higher up. The final scramble up to the plateau give us some mild “palpitations” trying to assess the best line of approach. Soon all was well and the group was safely on the plateau shrouded in thick mist but presented with a very strong wind not experienced lower down. In order to visit the cairn on Fauscoum 792m, marking the highest point in the Comeraghs, it was necessary for Peter to lead us out across some 500m of boggy, trackless and featureless ground, a task which he did with un-erring accuracy. Once back at the rim of the Corrie we had lunch nestled down sheltered from the wind, with intermittent but superb views down and out across Coumshingaun to the Wexford and Waterford coastline. A simply sublime experience. In continuing mist and strong wind we continued around the rim to ascend the prominent grassy cone of Stookanmeen 704m (Smooth Peak) before starting out north and, thankfully, out of the mist to Crotty’s Rock. For those prepared to do so in the wind a hands and knees crawl out to the cliff edge, to look down to Crotty’s Lough far below, the effort was rewarded with an impressive view. From here, reading the map, the way back should have been straightforward but was hindered to some extent by deep and wide patches of gorse and hidden rocks. But all considered this was a memorable day in the Comeraghs.
Wednesday
Long Hill and Laghtnafrankee
Before heading home we took a pleasant and enjoyable walk across the northern foothills of the range overlooking the Suir Valley and Clonmel. Having walked up a forest track we were soon out on open hillside below The Punchbowl a natural amphitheatre on the north side of Laghtnafrankee. Heading east we made a gentle but lengthy climb up and over the aptly named Long Hill (some imagination was needed to come up with this name!). From here we followed a track down and around the side of Laghtnafrankee before climbing up its undulating south west spur to the summit cairn 518m. We then headed down around the east side of The Punchbowl to meet our outward track which we reached, eventually, once across a steep sided and rocky gully.
Thanks to Peter for all the work he put into planning this most enjoyable trip. Although this was his first endeavour hopefully there will be more to follow. I know those who were there had a ball. For those who were not you missed a treat.
The Mourne Ramblers were: Peter McGowan, Harry Goodman, Ray Gray, Philip Gunn, Ann Keown, Dermot MacDermott, Hilja McMahon, Alice McParland, Norman Patton, Kingsley Thompson and John Tweed.
Harry Goodman