Ireland Carrauntoohil

QMD Walks

Carrauntoohil

Relevant OS Maps include: OS Adventure Series Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Killarney National Park 1:25. Harvey Macgillycuddy’s Reeks Superwalker XT 30 (1:30) - This is the superior map by quite some way. A good guidebook is strongly advised such as Carrauntoohil & Macgillycuddy’s Reeks by Jim Ryan and/or The Mountains of Ireland by Paddy Dillon.

Distance: c. 7.5 miles to Carrauntoohil and descend via Zig Zags excluding Caher option.

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Some boulder fields and steep ground. Some Grade 1 scrambles available

1. Start at Cronin’s Yard V836873 and follow man FP up towards mountains, CB 220. BR where the FP does a Y just before stream crossing V831854, CB 235, and follow along the stream past Lough Gouragh and up to Loch Coimin Uachtair. BL and there are two gully ascents from here. The main ascent is up Brother O’Shea’s Gully V802846 CB 215 from outflow of Loch Coimin Uachtair. There is another gully further across to the left and brings you out through a doorway. This is a steeper ascent than Brother O’Sheas Gully. At the top of the ridge TL CB 117 and follow path up to the top of Carrauntoohil V803845.

2. OR at Lough Gouragh BR and follow ridge up Stumpa an tSaimh V810851 CB 275. This is a serious scramble in places. Follow the ridge up to Beenkeragh Binn Chaorach V801852, CB 275. At the top TL and follow the ridge along to the Carrauntoohil FP, CB 185. This requires another scramble with some good exposure.

3. OPTION: From Carrauntoohil there is an out and back along a good ridge to Caher V792839 CB 240, and on to Caher West Top V790840, CB 287, then back to Caher, TR CB 215 and out to An Currach Mor V788832.

4. From Carrauntoohil descend towards The Devil’s Ladder V807837, CB 150. EITHER descend via the Devil’s Ladder V806837, gully CB 050, a grade 1 scramble. OR continue on to Cnoc na Toinne V812834, CB125. From summit follow path BL along ridge CB 075 for c. 330m then CB 025 to The Zig Zags and descend, CB 320, to main path. TR along main path CB and follow back to Cronin’s Yard.

Glossary BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right CB - Compass Bearing FB – Footbridge FP - Footpath. Usually marked on 1:25 but not on 1:50 JNCT - Junction (paths/tracks cross/join) OA – Open Access PRoW - Public Right of Way. Usually marked on 1:25 and 1:50 Quad bike track - Two parallel lines going across the fell made by continued use by quad bike RHS – Right hand side LHS – Left hand side TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Track - A wide track that looks suitably for 4x4 vehicles