Charity Climb In Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & The Irish Cancer Society

On Sunday April 30th the 3rd Charity Climb is on up Carrantoohill

in Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & The Irish Cancer Society.

The first climb up Carrantoohill raised €2950 in aid of Pieta Hospital & The Twomey Memorial with 60 climbers and we had a good day out.

Click on the Link to view Video

Charity Climb 1 Up Carrantoohill

The second climb was up Mount Brandon in Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & Marymount Hospice and raised €6500. This climb went over 2 Sundays , on the first Sunday we had to get off the Mountain for safety & the fact we were soaked through & through. The second Sunday was an absolute brillant day where experienced climbers never saw the Brandon top clear & sunny but they saw it that day.

Click on the Link to view Video

Charity Climb Up Brandon

Charity Climb Up Brandon Part 2

So hopefully our third climb

Club Outing -- First time doing The Claragh Loop

 On Sun. March 11th for the first time we had a club outing doing the Claragh Loop , to get there you go into Millstreet, turn down the road between Centra & the Church and travel out for about a mile until you meet a Grotto and just beyond this you park on the right on the bend. You then proceed to walk up the small road on the town side of where you are after parking until you meet the entrance into the forest on your right . This is the start of the Claragh Loop.
 On this day we started with a good crowd of 11 including another new member & 2 day visitors which was a great turn out

 The Claragh Loop is another good walk for us in that it is not that far away and in some ways for us it is so close most people never bother doing it, thinking the far away fields are greener. The way we did it is by first climbing the traditional route to the top of Claragh Mt. and going as far as the Cross but instead of turning back you continue on until you meet you meet up with The Duhallow Way and the follow the waymarked signs.

 As you descend from the top in front of you is Caherbanagh with views stretching on towards the Kerry Mountains and on a good day the pinnacle of our days out - Carrantoohill.

This way is marked but you would want to watch out as an odd sign may not be standing up but it is relatively easy and just follow the paths and after a while it is time to turn around & head back towards Millstreet and this  leads to the one bad point of doing the Claragh Loop in that this section can be mucky in places. Today we were lucky in that it was dry for a few days and it was not too bad.

Clara Mt. is now on your right with its gorse filled sides, if you wanted you could go straight up or down to reach the Cross from around here if you were feeling really adventurous . As you are travelling along you are looking on towards Millstreet town and the rest of Duhallow. Another thing about this route is that there is a sting in the tail in that just when you think you are nearly back there is a fine tough little climb up through the forest to join up with the original pathway which led you up to the top & the cross, at this point you take a left & back to the car.

Claragh Mt. may not be the talest you will ever climb but it is always a good test or a very good workout  and the full loop is always worthwhile but allow for a few dry days if you can because it can be mucky in places but overall a good day out

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.