Iveragh
Route 109: Iveragh - Purple Mountain Group
Rambler map 78 (1:50,000) or Killarney National Park map (1:25,000).
Start at car park at Kate Kearney's Cottage (V 881887). Walk north along road, cross bridge, take first road right. Ignore right turn after 300 metres to continue straight ahead on path which swings south on initial climb to Tomies Mountain. Keep to high ground to Purple Mountain (832 metres), retrace steps to point 757 metres and walk to Shehy north-east top (563 metres). Descend north-west for 500 metres to avoid cliffs, then north-east to reach forest track. Follow to road. Walk can be easily shortened, and final road walk eliminated, by returning onto initial path. Be extremely cautious if attempting a descent to the Gap of Dunloe as there are many sections of cliff.
Distance: 18 kilometres. Climb: 1,000 metres. Time: 5.5 hours.
Route 110: Reeks Ridge
Rambler map 78 (1 :50,000) or MacGillycuddy's Reeks map (1:25,000).
Start at car park at end of road (V 836873), finish at car park at Kate Kearney's Cottage (V 881887) but note escape routes back to start over initially steep ground in following description. Walk track south, ascend steeply on path (Devil's Ladder) to col south-east of Carrauntoohil (careful - slippery when wet). Walk east, north-east with cliffs on left to Cnoc na Peiste (point 988 metres) - escape possible north-west. Some scrambling on north-east and north legs from here to Cruach Mhor (point 932 metres, grotto), worst avoided by veering right on first, left on second leg. (Escape possible north from Cruach Mhor on.) Walk east to point 731 metres, north-east to point 422 metres. At shallow col north meet path/track heading east to road.
Distance: 18 kilometres. Climb: 1.250 metres. Time: 6.75 hours (including 1 hour for steep ground and scrambling).
Route 111: Central Reeks
Rambler map 78 (1 :50,000) or MacGillycuddy's Reeks map (1 :25,000).
Start at bridge (V 767867) on minor road 1.6 miles south of prominent junction. Walk one hundred metres south-west along road, turn left to follow track/path with river on left. At about Lough Eighter climb north-west spur of Caher to its two summits (200 metres apart) and then follow cliffs on left to Carrauntoohil (trig pillar, cross). From summit, retrace steps south-west one hundred metres (most important to avoid cliffs!) and here descend steeply north-west to reach Beenkeragh ridge. Walk ridge to Beenkeragh (careful - some scrambling necessary on ridge especially at start, worst avoid-able by keeping to left of crest). Climb Beenkeragh, Skregmore (three main summits), descend steeply close to Lough Eighter. Retrace steps to start.
Distance: 13 kilometres. Climb: 1,250 metres. Time: 5.75 hours (including I hour for scrambling and steep descent).
Route 112: North Iveragh
Rambler map 78 (1 :50,000).
Start near right-angle bend to right on road at V 636852 (this road is signposted "Coomasaharn Lake" in Glenbeigh). Park considerately. Follow track south-west at this bend nearly to end, then climb steeply to Knocknaman. Walk south with cliffs on right, swinging west with cliffs to follow wall to Coomacarrea. Climb Teermoyle Mountain (indistinct summit may be bypassed by following cliff on right), take narrow but safe arete eastwards over point 608 metres. Walk directly to road.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 800 metres. Time: 3.75 hours (including 0.25 hours for steep descent).
Route 113: Iveragh - Mullaghanattin
Rambler map 78 (1 :50,000).
Start at junction on side road (V 718797). Walk south along track; at Cloghera ask permission to continue, climb to east side Eskabehy Lough and climb north spur of MUllaghanattin (trig pillar) to summit (some scrambling near top can be avoided by walking east from lake and ascending north spur of point 683 metres). Walk west to point 692 metres, bypassing small memorial on way and keep to high ground, going generally south-west, over point 752 metres (Beann) to point 543 metres. Descend to south side Coomloughra Lough (very slow going and difficult navigation), climb point 666 metres, point 532 metres. Descend to end of track at south-west corner of Cloon Lough. Track to start.
Distance: 18 kilometres. Climb: 1,300 metres. Time: 6.75 hours (including 1 hour for difficult terrain).
An easier and obvious circuit from the south, starting at the junction at V 747747, can be made traversing the peaks around the Pocket, including Mullaghanattin.
Distance: 10 kilometres. Climb: 1,000 metres. Time: 3.75 hours.
The next 'Kerry' extract can be found
here : Part 7
Information extracted from Walking Ireland’s Mountains: a guide to the ranges and the best walking routes by David Herman, published by Appletree Press.
