Beenbo
Beenbo (477m), Slievenagower (486m) & Slievenalecka (458m)
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You can Park at Ballyduff Graveyard (Q 540 101) , there’s room for a few cars. I headed up past the old farmhouse and went directly up to Beenbo. I’ve seen mention of access issues on MountianViews.ie going this way, but i met no-one, going up or coming down. your milage may vary. I’ve seen a group of walkers going up via the gate at the bridge but that always looks closed to me and the Private Protery sign is respected. Maybe theres an understanding but i can’t say for sure. I have previously gone back the road towards Tralee for a few hundred meters to a sign marked Glenahoo Trail, but not too fond of the traffic on it.
The trip up to Beenbo is ok, open field , some heather and a cut track along the mountain side, which while unsightly is ok for the most part to walk on. I was wondering should i vere left near the top and get onto the ridge, don’t bother. For one , it looks terribly unsafe and two, when you get to the top you can look back and see you made the right decision.
Heading upwards
Even tho Beenbo is only 477m the view looking down into the Macha na Bo valley is spectacular, with Beenatoor on the other side.
Looking down into Macha na Bó
Don’t be foolish up here as there are a two plaques in the valley where people had misfortune.
You can see the old settlements in the valley floor
The top of Beenbo is flat enough and a nice place to take a break for some pics.
looking across to Knockmulanane which stands over Anascaul Lake.
Looking at Slievenagower from Beenbo
Drop down off the top of Beenbo and carry along the track to Slievenagower. Theres a nice bit of a rock ledge here when i had a break for a bit. Carrying on your are then greated by the view into Loch a Dúin.
I’ve done that loop walk before and its really nice with the waterfall at the back of the valley. CLFT.ie has a little booklet you can print for that walk and its great.
Looking down into Loch a Dúin which translates to ‘The Lake of the Fort’
The Little fella and his mother in front of Slievenalecka and Slievenea NE
There is a river crossing here coming from the Coumanare Lakes to Loch a Duin. There was a good flow so i walked back up the river to see if i could find an easier place to cross but had no luck. I came back down just before this next image and picked my way across very carefully.
Top of the waterfall into Lough a Dúin
View from Slievenalecka looking into Loch a Dúin
So on we go, its getting long at this stage, if you’re still reading, we’re nearly done , thanks….
Dropped down towards the Coumanaire Lakes and An Loch Dubh. At this stage it was pushing on and i said investigating these could wait for another day. The do look interesting and there may be some photo opportunities there.
To finish was just a matter of heading across the bog to Beenbo and down. The rain decided to finally make an appearance and the camera was put in the bag. This final pic is looking back towards Beenbo with the big one in the distance being Beenoskee. It was wet and heavy enough going but overall it was grand.
View across the plateau
This was completed in the Middle of June 2022. Hard to believe this was the same summer that followed it for 2 months.
This hike was around the 14km mark with a lot of pics taken. Really enjoyable overall and will be done again.
A bit more Info
The English -> Irish -> English names for these are
Beenbo
-> Gob an Iolair
-> beak of the eagle
Slievenagower
-> Sliabh na nGabhar
-> mountain of the goats
Slievenalecka
-> An Starraicín
-> The Steeple
The double translation has them nowhere near their original english version.
i’ll have to try and find out more at some stage.
Car park location is just after a bad bend so keep an eye out for it.