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Mt Brandon Climb

Mt Brandon Climb

Distance :8.5 km
Time 4 hours
Start:- Faha Car Park,
Finish:- Faha Car Park, or Brandon Point.

Nearest Village:-Cloghane/Brandon
Map: OSI Discovery Series. Sheet 70

Click on this link for google maps directions.

www.google.ie/maps/dir/Castlegregory,+Martramane,+Co.+Kerry/52.2391775,-10.2057707/@52.2381986,-10.2020911,1907m

(Car parking is available. Roads are quite rural and narrow so caution is advised.

Steeped in Irish Mythology and Pagan History, the most scenic walking route to the summit of Mount Brandon (952m or 3.123 feet), Irelands 9th highest mountain is the from Faha near Cloghane Village. Located on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry in the south West of Ireland this walk is only 27 mins from Castlegregory and 19.6 km, one of the best and fascinating mountain walks along the Wild Atlantic Way. This is a moderate to strenuous but extremely rewarding 8.5km (4 hour) trail which starts from the car park near the Faha Grotto, a popular starting point with space for roughly 10 cars. Passing the Grotto, follow the obvious and well worn path with a gradual gain in height along the slopes of the Faha ridge for the first half an hour. Take the lower path leading you around into the valley under the Faha ridge until the lakes known as the Paternoster or Coumaknock Loughs come into view. This is a stunning glaciated valley full of lakes, waterfalls and impressive towering. The shear cliff face in front of you, may look intimidating but as you reach the base, a winding path to the Col above appears which is very manageable so take your time. Once your out of the valley on onto the Col, turn left and take the final short easy walk to the summit. On a clear day there are stunning 360 views from the summit. However Brandon is notorious for lingering cloud!!!! so fingers crossed and good planning. You can return along the same route or alternatively via you can carry on via Sauce creek and to Brandon Point where you will require a second car for return journey. As this is one of Irelands highest mountains a knoeledge of the mountains and good map reading skills are essential as it has been know for dense fog to engulf the mountain very quickly. Care is essential and let somebody know of your journey.

The following is a download from the MountainViews Online Database, who list 15 Brandon Group peaks over 100 metres.

1 1 Brandon Cnoc Bréanainn Brendan’s Hill 952 934 3,122 3,064 70
2 13 Brandon North Top — — 895 23 2,938 76 70
3 14 Brandon Far North Top — — 840 17 2,756 57 70
4 3 Brandon Peak Barr an Ghéaráin Top of the Fang 840 190 2,756 623 70
5 6 Benagh Binn Faiche Peak of Faha 822 57 2,697 187 70
6 8 Faha Ridge Na Poirt The Fortifications 809 44 2,654 144 70
7 10 Gearhane An Géarán The Fang 803 26 2,635 85 70
8 11 Brandon South Top Faill na nDeamhan Cliff of the Demons 790 25 2,592 82 70
9 4 Masatiompan Más an Tiompáin Hollow 762 109 2,500 358 70
10 9 Piaras Mór — Big Pierce 746 33 2,447 108 70
11 15 Piaras Mor thuaidh barr — — 700 12 2,297 38 70
12 2 Ballysitteragh An Scraig Rocky Outcrop 623 218 2,044 715 70
13 12 Beennabrack Binn na mBroc
Macha na gCab Peak of the Badgers
Plain of the Beaks 609 24 1,996 77 70
14 7 An Bhinn Dubh — The Black Peak 479 51 1,572 166 70
15 5 Faill an tSáis — Cliff of the Noose 431 106 1,413 348 70

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