The Faha Ridge
Benagh (822m) & Faha Ridge (809m)
Watch on YouTube instead
We parked just below the grotto at the usual carpark a bit outside Cloghane. Headed off to the Pilgrims path until it came close to the ridge and then broke off to the right.
It’s a good haul up to Benagh, nothing difficult and mostly on a grassy hillside, not much troublesome heather so that makes things a bit easier.
Making our way up to Benagh
Once at Benagh the views were stunning. Brandon was visible in all its glory from a view point I had not seen before, from where you could look directly at the cliff face. It was great to see all the rocks crumpled up in waves. I’m sure geologists must love this, but for even non geologists like myself, this is fascinating to see.
Mount Brandon cliff face
Then of course under Brandon you have the paternoster lakes leading to Lough Nalacken and Lough Cruttia. Up high was Brandon South Top, Brandon Peak and Gearhane and all the distant peaks.
Brandon South Top, Brandon Peak and Gearhane
To the north you have the views up to Masatiompan, Sauce Creek and out to the Maharees. The weather was so clear we could see to Loop Head in Clare and we believe as far as The Aran Islands. Checking maps we believe that’s what we were looking at, but could be open to correction of course.
The Maharees and further beyond
The scramble along the ridge itself was enjoyable. A good number of drop downs (?) which i would imagine would be awkward if doing this in reverse. I didnt take many pics here, i should have, along with the obligatory video showing how dangerous it is, but to hell with that, concentration was needed at all stages.
The Faha Ridge
After getting along the ridge it was then time to go up the slope to join the main Brandon ridge with Brandon North Top to the right. Even tho the conditions were perfect i did find this section a bit hairy. Looking back at the pictures it does look like a pretty much straight drop down, but there was in fact some bit of a slope. I’m not nervous of heights in general but i was very conscious of the the fact that a fall here would mean curtains. There was the odd bit of a trail, but to be honest it wasnt much and we just scrambled for the most part upwards holding onto what ever we could, which, more than i’d care to admit, was often just grass.
Did we just do that?
Once up we took in the views and were able to appreciate the ridge and what we just completed. Phew…
View back down the ridge
On then to Brandon where the scenery was yet again spectacular, with views all around.
We stayed a while at the top soaking it all in.
On a clear day there is no where better…
The return to the carpark was down the Eisc and out the valley.
10/10