Carrauntoohill Climb

On Sunday 19th August we headed west for our walk. Leaving town at 08.00 we journeyed to Killarney,where we met up with some more members. Unlike previous walks the gender balance was biased towards the men.We had a break for tea / coffee and then set of in convoy for Cronin’s yard. Here after some more refreshments, we finally worked out the logistics of conveying our group to the start of the walk at the hydro road, and returning transport to Cronin’s yard for the end of walk. There should be an app for this...

Finally kitted out we started the thigh burning climb up the hydro road. This is a steep hard slog up the slope of Cnoc Iochtar. After awhile the path turns right and the climb eases off. Eventually you cross a gate and arrive at the old hydro dam at Lough Iochtar at 438 meters.Crossing the outlet we set our course South across some boggy ground then turning South South Eastwards to gain the ridge leading to Caher West top at 975 meters. On our left 500 meters below us was Coomloughra lake shrouded in fog.To our right the Bridia valley also hidden from view. We descended a little then climbed again to reach the summit of Caher the third highest peak in Ireland at 1001 meters. Occasionally the veil of cloud lifted slightly, to afford us tantalizing views to the valley floor. Onwards we trudged around the rim. Descending from Caher we reached a coll, before the short climb up to the Summit of Carrauntoohill....
Here there was quite a crowd so after taking some photos, we began our retreat down towards the Devils ladder. Passing the top of the ladder we continued to the summit of Cnoc na Toinne at 845 meters...
We picked up the zig zag path and began our descent. This time the zig zag presented no difficulty. Unlike our previous decent which was in icy and snow covered conditions.....

Finally reaching the valley floor we trekked back to Cronin’s yard for a welcome tea / coffee. We managed to see the final few minutes of the All Ireland, where Limerick stumbled over the line to claim victory. We then picked up the cars we had left at the Hydro road car park. Then made our way homeward. It was a great walk. Unfortunately the visibility was poor....but that’s the luck of the draw on the mountains....All in all not a bad day out with the highest and third highest peaks in Ireland conquered.Thanks to the leaders.

“ Going to the mountains, is going home” ........ John Muir.

Comments

The Claragh Loop

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...

St. Finbars Pilgrim Route -Kealkill To Gougane Barra

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...

Mangerton & the Devils Punch Bowl June 2019

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...

Kanturk Hillwalkers and Mountain Climbers | Blog

Search This Blog