Bird Hill to Carran

I was detailed earlier on in the year to lead this circuit. We assembled at Kilgarvan church and proceeded to the start point under Bird Hill, where an obliging farmer allowed us to park our cars in his yard.

Fifteen of us gathered to look up at the first climb of Bird Hill via a steep gully. I knew at that stage I was not the most popular man around!

The first climb of Bird Hill and Gullaba Hill were steep and slow. We entered mist before we reached the top of Gullaba and it was map and compass for the next three hours. We had our lunch sitting on a bleak mountain, with the mist swirling around us. There was not much talk.

We had no views of the cliffs or lakes around Knockboy Hill. We were very glad to take a left turn on Knockboy and begin the descent to the main road at the top of the pass, where we had a fast snack.

We were down out of the mist at this stage and started the walk to Carran. We were very glad when we saw the farmer's yard and our cars ahead. In all, it was a seven hour walk - mostly over boggy terrain - and I was good and tired when I got home, many in the group vowing never to go there again!