pormerod on Knocknapeasta

I climbed the Cruach Mhor to Cnoc an Chullin ridge, and back to Maolan Bui for descent down the Bone, on a misty 10 December 2004. Occasional glimpses of views into the corries, but just before descending a superb cloud inversion, with the summits of the main peaks above the cloud and a fantastic brokenspectre.

Cruach Mhor to Cnoc na Peiste is an excellent ridge which deserves much more attention from UK walkers. In terms of length, interest and difficulty, it is better than anything in England and Wales. Only Snowdon via Crib Goch is at all comparable. There is more massive exposure on Crib Goch, but few, if any, scrambling moves are needed on Crib Goch This ridge is more scrambly.

In Scottish terms, An Teallach via Corrag Bhuidhe Buttress is definitely harder, and probably Aonach Eagach in my view. It is most similar to Am Fasarinen on Liathach, though again there is more exposure and a bit less scrambling moves on the Liathach ridge. I agree with a previous comment that this ridge is a UK grade 2 scramble. But overall superb.

Just one final comment. On a wettish day after some wet days, I found both the rocks and grass on the steep descent down the Bone pretty treacherous, requiring concentration. It is certainly not a fast descent in these conditions. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/4/comment/1364/

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Ascent from the Black Valley

I set off from the Black Valley hostel but, after a grim start on rough land with bracken higher than myself in places, I reached an insurmountable fence and had to return to the road. Although feeling more like the Australian Outback then the wilds of Kerry in temperatures over 30 degrees C, I followed the Black Valley road as far as Shamrock Farmhouse B&B, where I got permission to go through fields en route to Lough Googh.

A pleasant walk on short grass took me through several gates then good easy ground (but without a path) led to an easily-negotiated area of broken slabs and outcrops above 400m. I stopped for a break at Lough Googh, overlooked by beetling crags to the west. From there, easy grass flanks took me upwards (to the south-west), with a short path on the steepest section. Once on the ridge connecting Feabrahy and Cnoc na Péiste (at 600m), I continued north-west on fairly steep slopes with scattered rocks. Above 850m, I slanted leftwards, steeply uphill, to reach the col between Maolán Buí and Cnoc na Péiste, then a good path took me along the broad easy-angled ridge to the summit - 24 degrees C in the shade and nobody in sight. Views were a little hazy but the intimidating-looking ridge to An Gunna Mór looked sharp enough!

I returned to the hostel the same way although, with more time and less heat, a circular route over An Gunna Mór, Cruach Mhór and descending by the Derrycarna River would make a fine walk. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/4/comment/15167/

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John Finn on Knocknapeasta

The exciting knife-edge from Cnoc na Peiste to Cruach Mhor Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/4/comment/2313/

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sbarany on Knocknapeasta

Cnoc na Péiste from the shore of the lake. Blue arrow indicates the location of a blue rope which is tied to the wing in the water (and to a rock on the other end). No use pulling it: the wing is too heavy. The red arrow shows the location of a memorial plate. The plane crashed into the mountain 500 feet above this plate. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/4/comment/1904/

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jackill on Knocknapeasta

Cnoc na Péiste from the ridge after The Big Gun. The path after the col under the Big Gun starts on the south side then crosses over to the north side then back to the south side - the only hair raising bit is on the north side - a two foot ledge in places with nothing between you and Lough Cummeenapeasta except fresh air. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/4/comment/1145/

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