Kanturk Hillwalkers and Mountain Climbers | Blog

On Sunday 22/04 we headed East to the Galty Mountains for the club walk. We left town at 09.00 and continued on to Kings yard, which was the starting point of our climb. The Galty mountains traverse the Limerick Tipperary border and run from East to West. At 919 meters Galtymore is the highest inland mountain in Ireland. Leaving Kings yard we headed North East to link up with the Black road. On the slopes to our left there appeared to be some evidence of “lazy beds” which were used in the growing of potatoes before the great Famine of 1845. It would also appear that the mountain was home to a good number of people in the past, judging by the number ruins on its slopes. Reaching the Black road we went north along the track.Conditions were excellent for walking and we made steady progress. It was a very gradual ascent. There were great views southward to the Knockmealdowns. In the distance the the rounded summit of Galtymore our destination loomed ahead. Reaching a cairn it was dec...

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...

On Sunday 25 March the club outing was to Killarney. Our intention was to do Mangerton / Stoompa loop. We set off from town at 09.00 everyone had remembered to put their clocks forward. We arrived at Tooreencormick and parked up. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were a good number of hill walkers about. It’s good to see so many people heading for the hills. Safety being paramount in the club, we had dispatched a member to scout out the terrain earlier in the morning. Due to the previous heavy rain and melting snow, there was a possibility that the Owgarriff river which would have to be crossed after Stoompa might be in flood. The scout was to do the route in reverse and meet us on top of Mangerton. The clubs two way radios were put into action. Leaving the car park we headed off through Cormacks Haggard resplendend in our new snoods courtesy of Flahavan’s. “The perfect food for hillwalkers”. Conditions underfoot were muddy for the first couple hundred meters. We made stead...

In our constant search for new routes and mountains to climb, our outing on Sunday 18/03 took us to east Clare. Moylussa the highest point in County Clare at 532 meters part of the Sliabh Bearnagh range was our destination. After turning off the motorway at Killaloe exit we stopped for some tea / coffee. While we were here the weather took a turn for the worst and there was a snow shower. We considered our options and decided to press on. Passing over the 300 year old bridge we crossed the Shannon and entered Killaloe,birth place of Brian Boru. We took the Scarriff road and parked up at a car park near the entrance to Ballycuggaran wood. Ballycuggaran is named after the O Cuggarans who were an important clan in the court of Brian Boru. Initially this walk is on forest paths and it follows the East Clare way for some time. It’s a fairly steep walk and with the snow fall getting heavier as we gained altitude, we assessed the situation and decided to carry on. After some time the fo...

A walk in the park. On Sunday 18/02/18 the club walk was the Muckross Lake Loop of 12 Klms. approx. We left town at 09.00 in convoy for Killarney, picking up some people in Rathmore and then proceeded to the car park at Muckross House. There was a good turnout, a mixture of young and old plus two dogs. There was a slight mist but no cold it was excellent weather for walking. The car park was full, evidence of the popularity of this beauty spot. We donned our rain gear and set off dogs on leads and sat nav in hand to navigate our way around the loop. On tarred paths we made our way to Muckross Lake. Keeping the lake to our right, and the magestic Torc mountain to our left, we set off. Across the water the Killarney Church spire could be seen. The path runs out, where the N 71 squeezes up to the lake shore. At this point we had to take to the road. After some time there is a path to the right which swings back to the shore. Continuing along this we come to the 200 year old Dinis c...

On Saturday 10/02 the club outing was to Mount Hillary. This mountain could be considered the spiritual home of the club. It is on these slopes that potential members are interviewed and assessed. Halfway up the bike track one has a fair idea whether they will show up for the next walk.Though Mount Hillary is part of the Boggeras it sort of stands alone and is easily distinguished from afar. We met up at the Glen road entrance at 09.31. The weather was excellent for walking. We kept on the  main track for about 100 meters and instead of staying on the roadway veering right we went straight on a dirt track.This eventually took us to the foot or the steps. We went up the steps and at the top we turned left until we reached the bike track. We continued on this track to the trig point at 391 meters. The day was clear and the views were good. Conditions underfoot were mucky in places, but that was to be expected after the weather we have had. We stopped at the trig point to rest up....

The first club walk of 2018 took place on Sunday 7/01/18. On a cold but clear dry morning we left Kanturk at 09.00 approx and headed to Killavullen to walk the Loop walk on Corran Hill. We parked up at the designated parking site at Killavullen Cemetery. There was a good turn out for this walk, which hopefully will be the first of many this year, following on from a very successful 2017. The walk is classed as a grade B. There is a little bit of road walking before we turn right onto what was once the Cork road. The walk is on forest roads and tracks and as you gain altitude some fantastic views open up over the Blackwater Valley. The Ballyhouras are to the north, while the snow capped Galtees are to the north east. Kilworth mountains and the Comeraghs are to the East.While the Boggeragh are to the west. The villages of Shanballymore,Killdorrery, Castletownroach can be seen in the distance. The day was quite cold but an excellent day for walking. The mountains overlook the birt...