Piaras Mór
Piaras Mór (746m)
Watch on YouTube
Piaras Mór is a peak in the Brandon Range on the Dingle Peninsula. Google Maps
If you want to save on the reading the video shows the trip.
On the drive down things were not looking good. Low cloud, grey skies and the odd few drops. I thought to myself a few times should i just turn around. Just before the turn off to Castlegregory there was a break in the clouds and i could see the top of either Stradbally or Beenoskee mountains, there was hope… So i said if nothing else i’d continue on and make a hike out of it. I’d planned on doing an overnighter but wasnt expecting it to happen with what i was seeing.
Parked at Teer (Q 508 145) and started up along the Dingle way.
On the way up i met, i presume, a French family of 3 on the way down. A quick few words, due to my lack of French, determined that it had been like this for the last hour. Anyway, onwards. It was a warm evening
When i got to Arraglen things began to change, The outline of the evening sun began to break through.
Then it became obvious, a cloud inversion, and i started to get excited for what was to come.
oh my….
While it was tempting to stop every few meters and try and take pictures i had to at least get to the col between Masatiompan and Piaras Mór. Having left a bit later than i would have liked due to procrastination over the weather i didn’t think i’d get to Brandon North Top, where i’d hoped to spend the night. This clip shows Cnoc na Bainoige to Knockmulanane, you can just about see the tops of Slievenagower, Slievenalecka and Beenbo. Then Beenoskee, Stradbally and onto Caherconree and Baurtregaum. The U shaped hill near the end is Sauce Creek. I presume to non hillwalkers this means nothing, apologies, but for those of us who do venture up higher this is pretty cool.
Getting to the col where the Ogham Stone is, my jaw dropped. Pure blue skies, sun shining brightly and an amazing cloud inversion over the Atlantic.
It got a bit hectic.
Where to look? Where to aim the camera? Back to Sauce creek? Towards the mountains, Beenoskee and Caherconree? Keep going? look for a pitch for the tent? no… keep going, take pictures, i’m not going to make the top, can i pitch the tent here, was there a spot back there, no, i need to get higher?
I over think things at the best of times, but Jesus, i was wrecked trying to decide what to do here.
A bit beyond Piaras Mór i found a suitable spot, not perfect, but it would do, the sun was setting after all. Put the phone on time-lapse and starting setting up the tent. Once i was some way sorted i gave a quick look at the video to see it was ok and was completely blown away by the results. I’d no idea the cloud was moving that “fast”.
If you haven’t already, its in the YouTube video posted above. I’m not going to try wordify it here. It was just simply amazing. The rest of the night was spent taking pictures and videos.
The following morning was great also. The low cloud was still around, although not as thick as the night before and it did burn off fast enough such that when i was going back down it was completely gone. i did manage to catch the sunrise timelapse and a few nice images again.
I would like to say this was all planned to perfection but it wasnt, i feel i lucked out, and i’ll take it.
Just returned to Teer the same way i came up. It was warm and i was glad to be going home, instead of starting a walk.
Some of the pics are in the main gallery, and i’ve added some that are just from the hike here too.
The last pic with the sheep; in the video you see them, then the next shot i’m walking further down the track. You might think they moved out of the way, you might be wrong :) That big one was not moving , so i just went up around on the hillside, it was rather funny to be honest, they’re usually gone once they see you going in their direction.
just for reference the pitch was at an elevation of 750 meters ish.
This camp was pretty brilliant. I’d have like to get up a bit higher so the back of Brandon Far North Top wasn’t so prominent when looking towards the Three sisters, but i’d have missed the sunset if i’d kept going.
Right, thats enough from me. I hope i’ve given an idea of what the hike was like.
If you got this far, thanks, and we’ll see ye on the next one.
Ed