Skip to main content

A simply sensational October day on Ireland's Highest

By
This was definitely the best day we had so far on the Reeks. We were a little bit afraid about the weather while driving to Killarney as the fog was very thick and it looked like was going to stay with us for the day giving us no chance  for the good views. But then it suddenly disappeared and by the time we got to Lisleibane car park the day turned out to be the most beautiful warm and sunny and it felt more like July than October. Absolutely unbelievable...

Heavenly Gates


We decided to climb up the Heavenly Gates and go down the Devil's Ladder.
The Sun shining all the way up and no breeze made us all feel very warm and at some point all the spare layers of clothing we wore came out and landed in our backpacks. It was a day for t-shirts and shorts. 





Heavenly Gates is a nice route and a good alternative to two other popular ascent routes: Devil's Ladder and O'Shea's Gully. The other two routes can be very busy at times especially when the weather is so good. There's a mountain rescue hut on that route just in case somebody has to stay overnight when the conditions are too bad to make a safe descent. We always show it to everyone doing that route for the first time and so we did this time too. 

Heavenly Gates

But our best place is definitely a ledge at the Heavenly Gates where you can get amazing views of the Hags Glen. And the views today were amazing!
At the top you could still stay in your t-shirt. Sunny, warm with no breeze... So unusual in that place even in the summer... There's no words to describe the feeling and the clarity of the views. 





At the top

The view towards Hags Glen and Eastern Reeks

Beenkeragh

Beenkeragh Ridge
Going down the Ladder


We descended via Devil's Ladder this time as we don't really like the long Zig-Zags route. Always remember to be careful and take your time while going down the Ladder.

We did our hike in 5 hours and 20 min including our lunch break which was a good time. 
Labels:
Location: Carrauntoohil, Coomcallee, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Claragh Loop

By
 The Claragh Loop is a great walk in North West Cork near Millstreet,   for our Club and our members it is not that far away and in some ways for us it is so close most people never bother doing it, thinking the far away fields are greener.  We use it as a Club Walk once a year but our members often use it go for a walk by themselves or in a small group regularly just to get out for a bit of fresh air or excercise.   To get there you go into Millstreet, turn down the road between Centra & the Church and travel out the Clara Rd. going past the turn off for the Mount Leader Industrial Estate for about a mile until you meet a Grotto and just beyond this you park on the right on the bend. If it is busy around here you may have to go back down to the Clara Rd. and walk back up,  You then proceed to walk up the small road on the town side of where you are after parking until you meet the entrance into the forest on your right . This is the start of the Clar...
Post a Comment
Read more

St. Finbars Pilgrim Route -Kealkill To Gougane Barra

By
On Sunday 8th April the club walk was the Kealkill to Gougane Barra section of the Saint Finbarr’s Way. After leaving town at 09.15 we made our way to Gougane Barra, where we had coffee and left a car with our change of clothes. We then continued to Kealkill to begin our walk. As it was Pilgrim Path week the car park was full so we had to park in the village. We started at Carriganass  ( Rock of the waterfall ) Castle. This castle was an outpost of Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare. After the battle of Kinsale in 1602, having lost control of his strongholds in Dunboy and Dursey. He led his band of 1000 followers past this castle in mid winter, on a tragic journey to Leitrim. Attacked by both Irish and English on the way only 35 arrived in Leitrim 14 days later. We continued up the road past the castle climbing all the way. After after a little Bantry Bay can be seen.  Two and a half kilometers later we leave the road crossing a stile on our left, climbing steeply towards Knockb...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mangerton & the Devils Punch Bowl June 2019

By
On Sunday 16 June 2019 the club walk was the Devil’s Punchbowl circuit in the majestic Mangerton mountain range.Mangerton is the only mountain visible from the Main Street in Killarney. We left town at 08.30 and travelled west. The day was dry and sunny. The forecast was for showers at 12.30. We arrived at the starting point and geared up. Initially we walked on level wet ground through Cormicks haggard which was the site of a famous battle in 1262 when the McCarthys halted the Norman invasion into the kingdom. We continued southwards up the northern slopes of Mangerton at a brisk pace now gaining altitude. To our right the lakes were spread out below. With Killarney off in the distance. Underfoot conditions were reasonably good and we made steady progress. Stopping now and then to admire the views , and give our lungs a chance. Soon the terrain leveled off and we contoured south west for a while. We then veered south to bring us to approx mid way above the Devil’s Punchbowl. A sti...
1 comment
Read more