Carrick Mountain 318m, Clara Vale, Wicklow, Eire (Marilyn).

D20. Trooperstown Hill 430m and Carrick Mountain 381, near Clara Vale, Wicklow, Eire (Marilyns).

On many of the peak bagging/outdoor websites I perused for this trip I noted there were very few route descriptions regarding ascents of the lesser known Irish Marilyns. This also applied to the availability of gpx files. I will therefore add relevant information and files that hopefully will provide assistance to future hikers/peakbaggers.

Carrick Mountain 381m, Clara Vale, Wicklow, Eire (Marilyn).
This route starts just outside Glenealy village just off the R752. There is a dead end back road with no room for parking so you might have to park in the village. I found a spot at the track start point with two big double farm gates. I asked if it was to okay to park there in a nearby house (the nearest one) and a charming lady said the entrances are not used that frequently so it should be okay to park. I parked pretty tight up against the forest edge there (see picture).
From there it was straight up the road for 500m and then past the entrance gate onto a forest track for a short while. You then see a footpath going off on the left which you follow steeply upwards over very rough ground. It is a bit muddy, rocky and you will end up using three points of contact often but I did not find it a problem. You will cross over a couple of forest tracks too and eventually you will get to around the 320m height mark. Here a wider gentler path takes you right to just below the summit area. Here you have to cross a rough tree felled area for about 200m (follow my gps track here) before you get to the summit rock area where there is a narrow but distinct footpath to the trig pointed summit. The views are somewhat obscured by trees but it is a nice area and a nice trig point. Then simply retrace your steps. I did explore some other footpaths on the way down but they were all pretty much the same. All in all a decent walk.

Parking: Residential back road with limited parking. My one vehicle spot is about the best you can get.
Route: A very short road and forest track section but then a very steep but enjoyable footpath up through the forest. I do believe they use this for a running race. Decent track towards the summit area where you have to negotiate a felled tree section before getting to the rocky trig point. The views on the way up are pretty much obscured by tree but it is a pretty enough area. Follow the gpx track, it is about the best you can get.
Statistics: 5.1km with 300m of heigh gain done in 1hr 25 mins.
Maps: Outdoor Active Irish Topo Maps.