A Sunday Walk
The Sunday Walk series is intended to introduce you to some of Co. Wicklow's lesser hills - not lesser in beauty, history or interest, but certainly lesser in height. Consequently, many walks are only 90-180 mins long, which makes them perfect for A Sunday Walk! While perhaps you may not need your full mountain kit for many of these walks, proper boots are a must, as well as waterproofs and a map and compass. Chicken sandwiches are optional.
Kilnamanagh Hill 217m
This gentle walk near Glenealy and the Deputy's Pass, takes you from your selected Parking Waypoint to the summit of Kilnamanagh Hill 217m and prominence of 142m, which is classed as a Binnion (a wee baby mountain under 400m, but with prominence of more than 100m). It first caught my attention as I had finished walking all of Wicklow's higher peaks, and this appeared on my list of of 100 nearest peaks to home. The nearest 100 Challenge is wonderful, as it takes in all sorts of places you would not otherwise visit.
Kilnamanagh in Glenealy was an important site, where monks were said to have erected a wooden church in the woods. Kilnamanagh in Glenealy was also claimed as the site where St. Kevin was educated (rather than Kilnamanagh in Tallaght). Cellbritton in the Glenealy was said to be the church of a Briton or Welsh monk. He is claimed to be Petroc, the famous Abbot of Padstow in Cornwall. He may even be the founder of Kilnamanagh in Glenealy. The area is also associated with St. Enan also known as St. Menoc or Momenoc and St. Molibbo. (Source)
The Routes
Two routes are offered here - a short one and a long one; at the time of publication, the long one brings you past or close to 4 other caches. The short route is a quick affair, but still a worthy walk in its own right.
Short
At a mere 3.3km roundtrip on an out-and-back looped route, the walk itself takes barely 40 mins roundtrip, and takes in a princely 78m of ascent - including a section on a muddy bridle path, where on hiking boots (and perhaps even gaiters) will be appreciated outside high summer (or perhaps even during it!). Park at the given East Parking Waypoint, which is very accessible from J18 (Beehive) M11 exit, and follow the small muddy track to the left of the house entrance; you will come to a yellow Coillte gate after some two minutes. Follow the track along, ignoring the immediate turn, until you get to point C and turn uphill. When you reach the track above, I suggest you pop over to the promontory to take in the views before continuing anti-clockwise on the loop around towards the summit. You will encounter a hardcore track - turn left - upwards - until you come to a clearing in the woods; pick your way over to the far corner and you will see a style on the wall. The cache is underneath the style but NOT IN THE WALL. Here you will find fine views of Carrick Mountain opposite and more distant, but very impressive views, nonetheless, of the Wicklow massif.
Longer (but not too long)
The second route starts at the Deputy's Pass carpark and takes a longer route to the cache. It is approximately 9.4km roundtrip and takes in 132m of ascent - that's a walk of about 2:30. At the time of publication, this route directly passes three caches and comes close to a fourth. While the views aren't quite as good along the way due to the woods, the final sections share largely the same views.
Leave No Trace
The cache has been placed in accordance with the "Leave No Trace" principles. Please respect these principles when searching for the cache.
