Lugnaquilla 2024

As 2024 came towards its end, it was once again time for the annual outing to Lugnaquilla. This time, as well as my sister Moira, we had Joff with us again.

We reverted to the traditional route for our walk this year on 26^th December, starting at Fenton’s Pub, and going via Camara Hill onto Lugnaquilla.

We followed the mearing up Camara Hill. This was an old form of land marking, and in this case the mearing marks the boundary between the army lands to the north and the commonage to the south. The army lands date from the time of British rule in Ireland, and the mearing used to be marked with small stone pillars at regular intervals, each carrying the “crow’s foot” mark of the British War Department.

The ground was dryer that it has been on many of the occasions that we have taken this route. To the top of Camara Hill, there was only a little mud, though the flat ground beyond was not so kind. Once past that, the ground was fairly dry again. As we started out, there were still clouds clinging to the summit of Lugnaquilla as well as several of the peaks nearby. But as we ascended, the clouds parted, and we had blue skies. This is a rare event on “Lug”, but it allowed us to see the route ahead clearly. The temperature was good as well. Near the top of Camara Hill, I was able to take off my jacket; only a shirt and sweater were needed on that day.

After that, it was a case of just going on up. It is not particularly steep and just requires steady going to get to the top. Some care was needed at the “rock garden”, picking our way through the stones. And then we reached the summit plateau, where a cairn guided us on the final piece of the way to the summit.

We have had years when this annual walk was an endurance test, being sandblasted with icicles by the wind. But this time was more benign. There was a cool breeze, cool enough that it was best to take our rest on the sheltered side of the summit cairn. But it was not so cool that we could not take time to pose for photos.

After some light refreshments, it was time to go down again, back the way we had come. There were still other walkers coming up as we were descending. The good weather remained with us all the way down, so that compass navigation was not necessary. As we came back towards Camara Hill, the clouds were beginning to return. By the time we were back at Fenton’s the neighbouring summits were once again shrouded in grey. We had enjoyed a rare window of sunshine on the mountain.

After some refreshment in Fenton’s, coupled with discussion of past and future walking projects, it was time to go. Our annual ascent of Lugnaquilla was done for another year.