Weekly Route - Carrauntoohil

Walking Route: Carrauntoohil, MacGillycuddy's Reeks (Ireland)

Cronin's Yard > Lough Gouragh > Carrantoohil > Cronin's Yard

Distance: 8.2 miles (13.25Km)	Height Gain: 2997 ft ( 913m)
Overview: Something different with a foray over the water to Ireland's highest peak, Carrauntoohil - bear in mind The Reeks are only an hour's drive from Cork or 20 minutes from Kerry Airport.	Maps: Harvey 'Superwalker' 1:30,000 "MacGillycuddy's Reeks", OS Ireland 1:50,000 Discovery Series Sheet 78,OS Ireland 1:25,000 Map MacGillycuddy's Reeks
Strenuousness: 3 Technicality: 3 Photo Grade: 4	Start Point: V837873

Something different with a foray over the water to Ireland's highest peak, Carrauntoohil. A great alternative to the long drive north for those in South Wales and the South of England with The Reeks only an hour's drive from Cork or 20 minutes from Kerry Airport.

True wild country where rivers have to be waded and you can still find spectacular mountain scenery without the hordes of people such a location would attract in England.

The section between the summit of Carrauntoohil and Cummeenoughter Lake give scrambling opportunities, and though these can be bypassed there are numerous spots along the entire route where a degree of exposure is inevitable.

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Section 1 - Cronin's Yard to Lough Gouragh

Distance: 2.5 miles (4.0km)

Height Gain: 689ft (210 m)

Turn right from Cronin's Yard and follow the path between the fields as it winds its way up towards the main Hag's Glen path. After 1.6km you meet the Gaddagh River, which has to be forded. In summer - below - this provides no problems, but in wet weather the river becomes a raging torrent with water thigh deep and extreme care is required.

The path now heads uphill into Hag's Glen with another river crossing shortly after the two main tributaries of the Gaddach seperate. A short rise now brings you onto a flat, and often waterlogged, valley floor with steep sided peaks surrounding you.

Pass between the twin lakes of Lough Callee on your left and Lough Gouragh on your right. The ground ahead becomes noticeably rockier as you prepare to leave the confines of Hag's Glen and start the steep ascent towards the ridge line.

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Section 2 - Lough Gouragh to Carrauntoohil

Distance: 1.5 miles (2.5km)

Height Gain: 2228ft (679m)

The way ahead is immediately obvious, with a single steep gully ahead being the only obviously accessible route from the glen to the high level ridge that now surrounds you. The gully, Devil's Ladder is up to 50 degrees in places and is filled with loose and unstable boulders and rocks. In wet weather this becomes a waterfall, and the going lies somewhere between walking and grade 1 scrambling, with the occasional handhold becoming necessary if only for balance.

A short first section can be taken at will up to a lip, from where the route funnels you into the main bed of the gully. From two thirds height the going gets steeper, but stick with the main gully, or waterfall, bed to reach a final 20-metre section where boulders give way to an even more unstable grey sandy base.

A final pull up here puts you on the ridge from Cnoc na Toinne. It's a good idea to stop and take a careful look around at this point if you intend reversing the route as the top of Devil's Ladder is notoriously difficult to find in mist and a wayward step here can leave you in trouble with big drops all around. Turn right from the head of Devil's ladder onto what starts as a relatively indistinct path punctuated by cairns as it rises steeply towards the summit.

In good weather you can see the summit cross above, but don't expect good weather as these mountains seem to collect cloud and mist from the nearby Atlantic coast. The indistinct path curves left before straightening, and take care here not to stray too far left onto dangerous terrain above Curraghmore, or too far right towards the north east face of Carrauntoohil.

Eventually you see the line of cairns and path coming in from your Caher on your left, and shortly after you finally reach the summit shelter and cross that mark the highest point in Ireland.The summit itself is surrounded by steep ground and extreme caution is required when commencing your descent, especially in poor visibility. Note that there are NO safe descent routes anywhere to the North, Northeast, East or Southeast of the summit.

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Section 3 - Carrauntoohil to Cronin's Yard via Brother O'Shea's Gully

Distance: 4.2 miles (6.75km)

Height Gain: 80ft (24m)

For Brother O'Shea's Gully follow a magnetic bearing of 230 degrees for 50m before turning to 308 degrees and descending steeply towards the top of the gully.

As you start your descent you pass the head of Curved Gully and Central Gully on your right, with steep drops and noticeable exposure as you scramble down loose rocks.

The scree gully becomes more scree filled as you descend, with the impressive, knife-edge Beenkeeragh Ridge up to your left. The route now reaches Cummeenoughter Lake (Grid Ref V803848), Ireland's highest lake, followed by a short steep section to a flat area.Continue down alongside the waterfall to another flat level to emerge between the Hag's Tooth Ridge and Carrauntoohil.

The path now descends into Hag's Glen, coming out above and to the west of Lough Gouragh - above - the route follows the stream on the righthand side of the picture. Rejoin your outbound route back down through the glen to your start point at Cronin's Yard.

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Route Map