Kanturk Hillwalkers and Mountain Climbers | Blog

On Saturday 23 June the annual Club nighttime climb took place. Our destination was the West Pap. As the last of the night owls were heading to their beds we left town at 01.00 heading for Clonkeen. We passed through the sleeping towns and villages eventually arriving at the parking spot at the start of the climb. Initially, there was great interest in the climb, but people dropped out one by one, until there were only four left all male. We were amply rewarded for our efforts. At the car park, we geared up and fitted our head torches. The night was balmy as we made our way upwards. As we gained altitude the twinkling lights of Killarney came into view. We proceeded at a steady pace as conditions underfoot were excellent and the route was gradual. Time on our side we decided to rest up in the lee of a rocky outcrop and had some refreshments.We didn’t want to summit too early. We had the mountain to ourselves save for a few startled sheep, whose eyes glowed in our headl...

On Sunday 24 June the club travelled to the village of Ballycotton. Leaving town at 09.00 we travelled to the beautiful rich countryside of East Cork. We parked up at Bayview Hotel and had the usual cuppa in the outdoors area overlooking a Mediterranean blue sun-kissed sea. We then proceeded uphill to the start of the cliff walk. Ballycotton being a fishing village has had its fair share of sea tragedy . A stark reminder at the start of the walk of how unforgiving the sea can be is a plaque to a young skipper who lost his life in 2006. Also at the start is the decommissioned lifeboat the Mary Stanford which served in Ballycotton from 1930 to 1959 saving many lives during that time. This boat and it’s crew took part in the ledgendary rescue of the Daunt Rock lightship which broke it's moorings in the 7 Feb. 1936 bringing all eight crew members home. For their efforts, the crew were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for bravery. The boat also got a medal for gallantry, t...

The Old Kenmare Road was described in 1750 as a Grand Jury Road by Charles Smith. It was built by subscription to link Killarney to the sea.It was known as the Glanerought Road. The road was in regular use up to 150 years ago. The club walk on Sunday was on this ancient trail. Leaving Kanturk at 08.00 we headed for Muckross House where we parked up. Then got on the pre booked bus for Kenmare. The weather was glorious.We headed up through Molls Gap and Ladies View soon we were in Kenmare. The bus took us to the town land  of Goulane. This eliminated a few kilometers of road walking. The steep road soon gave way to a rough track and behind us the views over Kenmare Bay opened up. The Beara Peninsula off in the distance. The faint outline of the Skellig could be seen. Upwards we went until we reached the Windy Gap, here we stopped to take in the views, and some water.At 300 meters this is the highest point of the walk. Peakeen mountain to the West and Knockanaguish to the East. The...

On Sunday 20 May the club hosted a walk in conjunction with Cork Walking Week. The walk was the Clara loop walk which is 10 klms long. Using the power of social media and some old fashioned posters we advertised in the area. We timed the walk for 13.30 with registration at 13.15 in the GAA Hall in Millstreet. This was new territory for us and we weren’t sure how many to expect. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors we had an ample supply of fruit, chocolate bars and water available for all walkers. The turnout was better than expected. It was great to see so many people, young and not so young  interested in doing the walk. After registration and a quick talk on the rules for the day we headed out of town, down the Clara road. Passing the grotto we turned left and continued for 500 meters before turning right into Mount Leader wood. Through the wood until we reached a stile. Our trail then skirted the forestry. We eventually came to a gate which led to open mountain and the ...

As it turned out this weekend we had to rearrange our plans due to circumstances but our tour of south Munster still rolled on & we ended up doing the Glanageenty Forest trail in Ballymagelligot  just after Castleisland.  On an absolute fantastic morning which was warm with clear blue skies & this left us great views all the way back to Mount Brandon & Tralee Bay on one side & The Paps on the other side with Carrauntoohill & The Reeks straight ahead of us. There is really only one thing to say , on a sunny day like Sunday we live in a great country.  One thing you do notice about this trail is that it is steeped in history as you will find out with all the palques & signs.  The walk itself was perfect & has a bit of everything with a few short but testing climbs & then into valleys as our route contoured up & down with sometimes in the wide open & next trailing through a forest.  Not much more to say but a grea...

On Sunday 6th May ( Dromtarriffe Well Day ) the club walk was on Crohane mountain the second most easterly summit in the Mangerton mountains. At 650 meters it looms over Glenflesk. We left town at 09.30 and continued to Glenflesk where we stopped for coffee /tea. We car pooled from here as there was limited parking at our destination. None of us had done this mountain previously so it was a new experience. We continued on the N22 to a junction to our left with a sign for Lough Guitane. Turning left here we continued until we came to a tarmac lane on our left. Parking up here we changed and made our way down towards Lough Guitane. Hugging the Mediterranean blue water to our right and Bennaumore straight ahead we continued on the lane. Eventually our way was blocked by a fence so we veered left up the slope of Crohane. There was no clear path so we had to find our own way. We zig zagged up, it was a tough enough slog, but the views that opened up as we gained altitude, more than ...

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...