First time to the Ballyhouras

A few weeks ago on our second trip of the year we headed to the Ballyhoura Mountains which was perfect in many ways in that it was not that far away especially at this time of the year and the fact we were walking for the most part on Forrest roadways. The day itself was cloudy, windy and mucky but we as usual made the most of it and got on with it and enjoyed the day.
 We parked in the Coillte ran car park, we departed by going back out onto the road & on back southwards for a small bit before we turned left down a small country road facing out towards the Galtees in the distance before we looped onto the main road again before crossing onto the mountain side again using the Forest roadway along the way. There was one steep section of this roadway but other than that it was a great walk for a February Sunday morning.
 Once we reached the top of the roadway we took a short stroll to go to our first peak which faced out towards Tipperary & Limerick but the view was cloudy and not really much to take note of because of this.
 We moved on and over the road and we decided to head for the top of Seefin Mt. and compliments must go out here as Timber Sleepers have laid to overcome the one really mucky part of our journey. When we reached the top the one thing we noticed was that the wind had picked up & with it a big chill factor with the blow. We had a short break before we set on our way again.
 We descended using the Mountain tracks which are well waymarked, the one thing to watch out is that some are for bikes only and we finally got back through the Forest back to our cars.
 Again compliments go out to the great available facilities for changing afterwards and this is one place we will return to again

On our hikes Here we go again

  As we were away for a while since November it was great to get out into the fresh air again and start another year on our travels exploring new places and some old as well and meeting new people along the way.
 We started this year with a relatively easy day out and we went somewhere we were not before and that was Torc Mountain in Killarney. We arrived with 9 people which was a good number especially as the weather was not great and some could not make it .

 We started at the bottom of Torc waterfall which is always nice to see and up the steps we went which leads us up to the Old Kenmare Road. This road was the old way of going from Killarney to Kenmare which is part of the Killarney National Park and which is also closed to traffic. We made our way along the road for about a quarter of an hour unti we met the sign for Torc Mountain.

 The one thing great about Torc is for a lot of the way up you are walking on timber sleepers which are covered with a steel mesh to stop you slipping. All the way up you get a great view of the National Park and stretching back towards Kenmare and lloking over towards Mangerton. The sleepers are great at this time of the year as you do not have to be travelling through muddy ground and it also speeds you up. To get to the top at an easy pace you will get there in about 70 minutes from the lower car park by the Waterfall. Torc can also be done from the Car Park by the Old Kenmare Rd.

 The fabolous thing about Torc is when you get to the top the view is really worth it as you are overlooking the Lakes Of Killarney and today did not dissappoint especially as you could see the lakes through the cloud. This place is really special on a sunny summers day with the sparkle of the water below and Muckross House and grounds just below you. Always worth a trip even on your own and well signposted to guide everyone and easy to follow the sleepers which are great if you have younger people with you.

 This was a great start to another year and a place we have not been before, yes it was a short trip but Torc is always worth it.

Trip from Shrone Lake To Caherbanagh & Back

On Sunday Oct the 23rd we set off on a mystery tour so as we left Kanturk we did not know where we were setting off to. We met the rest of the group in Rathmore and we folloewed on the lead car. A few miles away the mystery was starting to unveil. We were heading towars the northern side of The Paps. We eventually ended up at the gateway to the mountain road at Shrone Lake. This road disects the mountains and can lead you out to the other side near Glenflesk & where we usually start the hike up The Paps.But this day instead of going right for The Paps we were turning left.

In tthe days group we had 9 which was a good number, we started our hike on the mountain roadway & after a few hundred yards we turned left up Shrone More and headed on upwards towards Knocknabro, at this stage of our the morning mist was still down low & it was windy as well so we did not go to the top of this one.Once we got to the top of the first climb most of the day consisted of lots of rambling of going up & downwards through the mountain and as we stretched into the day the weather was starting to clear and it was remaining dry which is always good.

At this stage our destination was the top of Caherbanagh which was the only place still covered in cloud and mist.

We descended down from the top and skirted along the top of the gully heading on towards Glanaphrene where we were intending to link up with the Duhallow Trail. At this stage the skies and scenery were now unfolding nicely on all sides of us.

At this stage we moving more or less parrallel to the main Mallow to Killarney road in the distance with good location markers of the Cadbury factory and the wind turbines of Munster Joinery in view.

Taking the time of the year the conditions were absolutely fantastic and even for the fact of meeting up with the odd boggy patch the blue skies made you forget it very quickly.At this stage The Paps were coming back into good view again so that meant our trip was coming to an end.

We had a great day out and the weather for the most part was really good and this was a new route for us which all adds up and make it another memorable day but I can say talking for most of us that we were tired as we were out six hours and we were glad to see the cars and the chance of a reward of a cup of Coffee & a treat and a drink on the way home.

A simply sensational October day on Ireland's Highest

This was definitely the best day we had so far on the Reeks. We were a little bit afraid about the weather while driving to Killarney as the fog was very thick and it looked like was going to stay with us for the day giving us no chance  for the good views. But then it suddenly disappeared and by the time we got to Lisleibane car park the day turned out to be the most beautiful warm and sunny and it felt more like July than October. Absolutely unbelievable...

Heavenly Gates

We decided to climb up the Heavenly Gates and go down the Devil's Ladder.

The Sun shining all the way up and no breeze made us all feel very warm and at some point all the spare layers of clothing we wore came out and landed in our backpacks. It was a day for t-shirts and shorts. 

Heavenly Gates is a nice route and a good alternative to two other popular ascent routes: Devil's Ladder and O'Shea's Gully. The other two routes can be very busy at times especially when the weather is so good. There's a mountain rescue hut on that route just in case somebody has to stay overnight when the conditions are too bad to make a safe descent. We always show it to everyone doing that route for the first time and so we did this time too. 

Heavenly Gates

But our best place is definitely a ledge at the Heavenly Gates where you can get amazing views of the Hags Glen. And the views today were amazing!

At the top you could still stay in your t-shirt. Sunny, warm with no breeze... So unusual in that place even in the summer... There's no words to describe the feeling and the clarity of the views. 

At the top

The view towards Hags Glen and Eastern Reeks

Beenkeragh

Beenkeragh Ridge

Going down the Ladder

We descended via Devil's Ladder this time as we don't really like the long Zig-Zags route. Always remember to be careful and take your time while going down the Ladder.

We did our hike in 5 hours and 20 min including our lunch break which was a good time. 

Trip to Strickeen & Cruach Mor

 On Sunday Sept. 24th six of us set out on our latest trip, this time our destination was Strickeen & Cruach Mor which lies in between Carrantoohill and Purple & Tomies as well as overlooking the Gap Of Dunloe and the Black Valley.
 For most of the day we had good enough weather with some nasty showers thrown in but overall taking in the time of the year the weather was good with a lot of clear skies which leads to great scenery. The rain we did have came in heavy bursts and also there was very little cloud or fog overhead.

 I think this trip was probably one of the most spectacular we have been on in that the views and scenery on all sides of us all day were spectacular with the clear views of the Magillycuddy Reeks on one side and Tomies & Purple Mountains on the other side.
 The walk itself started at Kate Kearneys Cottage and then out the road towards the Gap Of Dunloe and after a while out taking a turn right up a mountain pathway which leads onto Strickeen Bog, I suppose we were lucky here in the day we had in that even though it is a bog there is ways through in not too a mucky way, you just had to pick your way.

  This pale is somewhere overtime people have got lost on their ways but now because a fence has been put up, all you have to do is follow the fence and it will lead you straight to Stickeen Mountain and from here you can look across to Cruach Mor. When you get up to this level it is important to have good guides as it would happen quite easy that the fog could come down on you and you could lose your way. We were near here a few months ago and even with an experienced leader but with the fact the fog came down on us we found it hard to find our way, so it is important to be prepared.

  One slight bad thing about this day was as we progressed along our way we found the rocks could be very slippy in places , so you really had to mind your step.

  As we got to the top of Cruach Mor and with the fact we had a clear day you could see for miles in all directions from back to Kenmare Bay to North Kerry and North West Cork and even though it was a bit cold it was dry and clear and that made it all worthwhile.

 As I said already this was probably one of our best trips or maybe that was just because it was a new and different route, but it was a great day out with the usual good company.

 

Support a Charity Mountain Climb Up Kilimanjaro by Caroline O'Riordans In Aid Of Irish Cancer Research

Support Caroline O'Riordan on her Charity Mountain Climb Up Kilimanjaro for Irish Cancer Research

My name is Caroline O Riordan, I am from Mallow, Co. Cork. On the 17th of October 2016, I am taking on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro in Africa in aid of Irish Cancer Research. I am fundraising for cancer as my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in July 2016. My young cousin spent 4yrs battling a tumour. I have lost friends and other members of my family because of cancer. I wanted to fundraise to help find ways to cure this dreadful disease.

You can support Caroline by donating through the Kanturk Hillwalkers & Mountain Climbers Facebook Page by clicking on the link below

Facebook Link For Donations

I hurt my back in a car accident and had back surgery in 2013 and I broke my left ankle twice.  I was told I was not to exercise for longer than 20 mins a day, which played havoc with my mental health as I was always a sporty person. In 2015, I had a turning point, in which I met a personal trainer who told me "no one can tell you what you can and cannot do, that's in the power of your own mind." Since that meeting, I turned everything around and I am back in the gym twice a week, I run plenty of races and I have signed up with Kanturk Hillwalkers this year and through this club I have climbed Carrauntoill twice, Mangerton, The Paps, Tomies & Purple Mountain, Gougane Barra and MacGillycuddy Reeks.

I have trained as a Life Coach and N.L.P Practitioner and I now teach people the power of their own minds and that they can achieve anything they put their minds too.

Trip Up Tomies & Purple Mts. -- Where are the Clear Skies & our Summer

On Sunday ane of the most beautiful place in the world . The starting point was the world famous Kate Kearne total of 11 of us set off on a trip up Tomies & Purple Mt. . On a fine, clear and sunny day this must be oys cottage and from there we headed a small bit back in towards Killarney before taking a right to start our climb.

The one thing great about our day out was as we started our ascent we got a great view over Lough Leane and the other parts of the Lakes Of Killarney & on a morning like this you get a great chance to appreciate it.

The first step up to little Tomies was not that little at all but a long gradual but strenuous climb but at no actual point overly severe but the quietness in the bunch told its own story. The legs & the lungs were feeling the effects. Our first aim and peak was little Tomies but the only thing by this stage the cloud and fog was down on top of us limiting our view.

After a pit stop and a group photo we headed on towards Big Tomies and as made our way across the top you could see its outline in the cloud with a few whispers of do we really have to go up there but as we progressed all of a sudden we were half way up and when you kept your head down for a bit more and looked up again, sure you were at the top !!!

The disappointing thing of this day was that by this stage was the clod and fog were right down on top of us and you could only see a glimmer of the view raising the question Where was our Summer and the clear skies because if you really wanted to be anywhere to consume the Lakes and surrounds it was right up here but we only got a glimmer.

We headed on our way again towards Purple Mt. and the one thing you notice about this section was the colour of the stone and you find out where this place gets its name. The stand out feature was the amount of loose stone there was . On reaching the peak we were at our highest point of the day but still in the cloud and fog.

As we made our way down below the clouds the views appeared again. To the West of us was the Black Valley and we could out towards Kenmare on one side and Inch Beach on the other and our left were The Reeks and the really Big One .The other noticeable thing as we came down the level of chatter was increasing as the severity decreased.

We finally got down to the road at the Gap Of Dunloe and from here we had to head back towards our cars at Kate Kearneys cottage and as we strolled along the one thing you would notice was the amount of different nationalities that visit this place from Irish, Germans, Indians, English, Russian, Swedish and all other parts. On a clear dry day it really is a spectacular spot and this made the last leg of our journey bearable as most of the legs were feeling the day at this stage and the fact that we turned up a chance to leave a car at the top of the Gap to go back as a taxi to retrieve the others. Even the jarveys were having no pity on our bones when we stuck out our thumb looking for a free lift.

We also got the chance to see a young deer grazing away and taking no notice of a few photographers.

Back to Kate Kearneys and a few refreshments at the end of a long day which everyone really enjoyed even though it did take over 5 hours but in future we may leave a car at the top of the Gap Of Dunloe but overall  a great day out but next time here God will you give us a few more clear skies especially when we are the top.