QMD Walks

Carrauntoohil Horsehoe

Copyright Bill Fear 2019

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 & Macgillycuddy’s Reeks by Jim Ryan and/or The Mountains of by Paddy Dillon.

NOTE: Grid references are not quite the same as they are on UK OS Maps.

Distance: c. 8 miles

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Some boulder fields and steep ground. Some scrambling.

1. Start at CP at JNCT with The Hydro Road V771871. Follow Hydro Road and continue along FP CB 190 just past Lough Eighter outflow V776856 to where FP TL up spur CB 129 to Caher West Top. Continue on past Caher West Top V790840 to Caher V792839.

2. OPTION: TR CB 215 at Caher and follow FP out to An Currach Mor V788832 and back.

3. Continue from Caher to Carrauntoohil V803845, CB 068. From Carrauntoohil descend into saddle CB 300 and follow FP round over ridge Faill Dhubh (Grade 1 Scramble, good line on RHS) CB 001 to Beenkeragh V801852 (boulder fields). From Binn Chaorach TL CB 323 and follow spur to Stuaic Bharr na h-Abhann V797858.

4. OPTION: From Beenkeragh make way to 824m ring contour V805856, CB 040. From 824 make way to Knockbrinnae V810858, CB 078. At Cnoc Broinne TL CB 282 and go over to Knockbrinnea West V807858. From Knockbrinnea West return to 824, CB 235. At 824 make for ridge/spur CB 258 and stay on high ground to top. At top of ridge/spur TR CB 310 and head down to Stuaic Bharr na h-Abhann V797858.

5. From Stuaic Bharr na h-Abhann continue CB 291to Screig Mhor 793860 and then CB 265 to Cnoc Lochtair V785860.

6. From Cnoc Lochtair descend on spur rough CB 255 to track and FP at Loch Eighter V776856. NOTE: Crags around halfway down.

7. At FP TR and follow back to CP.

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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 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

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