Begin at the car park at the end of Mocollop Glen 2km from Ballyduff and proceed up the glen. Mocollop (Maghcolpa or Plane of the Cattle) Castle, which gives its name to this area of the Blackwater Valley is a source of much antiquity.

The castle, which is immense although not evident from the road, has an unusual Round Keep with four square Flankers. The entrance portcullis is perfectly preserved.

Its walls, at least twelve feet thick and constructed in a perfectly circular manner, suggests the immensity of the original structure; doors, passage-ways, archways and underground chambers are visible. It was a fighting fort on the borders of the Duke of Desmond and the Fitzgerald's land. It was destroyed by Cromwell and legend has it that cannon was fired from the high ground across the river. The defenders were led by Maunsell.

The farm with its excellent stables and coach house must have been spectacular in its time and the front lawn had a variety of unusual trees - Linden, Red Chestnut, a Copper Oak and Maple derivatives beneath which one is reminded of an immense Cathedral.

A family named Drew from Devon owned the farm until 1925/1926. The gate lodge, a very pretty cottage, has a scroll OMB 1882 on its gable wall believed to refer to Olivia Marie Barry, a daughter of the Drew family who married a Barry. Across the road on the gable of what once was the local National School, a similar scroll, OMH 1884, is also believed to refer to the lady-viz. Olivia Marie Hilliard, perhaps a second marriage.

The Mocollop Graveyard at the base of the glen has not been used since 1964. It includes crypts of the Drew family. The church is believed to be the third on the site and includes the graves of Protestants and Catholics. The earliest grave was 1603.

Walk up the beautiful Glen for 0.6km with the stream on your left through the woods indicated in 9.2. Follow this road which meanders past a number of farms until you reach a 'T' junction, turn right for 0.5km and take the right hand fork (turn left for the longer walk 9.4) which will bring you down past a magnificent glen (the route of the Clounagad River) full of furze into the village of Ballyduff.

Turn right back to the Mocollop parking area (2km), taking due care on this busy road.