Coomloughra Horseshoe

Back in the Reeks and again and this time to do one of the best circuit walks in Ireland which takes Ireland's three highest peaks: Beenkeragh, Carrauntoohil and Caher, plus a few more.

Near the top of Cnoc Iochtair

At Beenkeragh Summit

Starting with the Hydro Road again (for the third time this year and there will be no more!) we made our way to the lakes, turned left then and started climbing up Cnoc Iochtair and then Skregmore. Very warm and sunny day soon changed into a chilly and windy one, but luckilly the sun stayed with us. After a quick stop at Stumpa Barr na hAbhann we climbed up Beenkeragh and started getting ready for the biggest challenge of the route which is Beenkeragh ridge. We split up  and reorganized the group. The two bravest decided to scramble every rock on the ridge, while the rest used easier route safely led by Denis.

Beenheragh Ridge

At Carrauntoohil Summit

The ridge was really enjoyable with glorious views. There's very little days like this in this country so every time it happens to be like this we feel really grateful and we try to make the best out of our trip. It's not a very difficult ridge, but think twice if you don't like heights. Even if you decide to use the path going around the rocky bits you'll still be quite exposed in places.

After crossing Beenkeragh Ridge we started climbing Carrauntoohil and soon the weather started changing bringing clouds and mist on top of us and they stayed with us all the way down and up again to Caher. Caher Ridge is not as exposed as Beenkeragh Ridge but you should still be careful in windy conditions.

We descended from Caher in foggy and drizzly conditions but we managed to escape the heavy showers.




A day like this will remind you how changeable the mountain weather is. Even on a warm sunny day you should be prepared and have your fleece and waterproofs ready just in case.

Macgillicuddy's Reeks

One of our Big challenges planned for this year was to do the whole Reeks starting from the Hydro Road and finishing at Kate Kearney's Cottage. Now, we have to say here that we don't like the Hydro Road.... and we don't like climbing Caher, but the alternative route which would be up Cnoc Iochtair and Skregmore following to Beenkeragh is longer and more difficult and adds more time to the trip.

Misty Reeks

Carrauntoohil

The conditions were tough with very poor visibility, wind and rain showers, but we decided to give it a go anyway. Caher route is very gradual and slow going from the lake up to the first high point. It feels like it never ends sometimes. After reaching Caher (thank God the torture was over!) we followed the ridge up to Carrauntoohil and had our lunch break. For a moment it looked like it was going to clear. The sunlight was trying to make it's way through the clouds and fog so hard, but unfortunately the clouds didn't give up keeping us all in the shadow for the rest of the day...

Eastern Reeks

Having in our minds that we had two cars, one parked by the hydro road and the other at Kate Kearney's, we had two options at this stage: go back or go forward, but we knew as well that if we went forward there would be no going back... We decided to be proper hard cores and off we went making our way down Carrauntoohil and towards Eastern Reeks.

There's something about Eastern Reeks in poor visibility... It's really easy to get lost there in the fog. Some of us can still remember getting misplaced while going down The Bone route from Maolan Bui last year and ending up in some steep gully... Once you pass Cnoc na Toinne and the top of the zig-zags route to the left, the path becomes not so obvious in places, disappearing between rocks and stones further on the ridge after passing Knocknapeasta.

We met a small group of walkers wandering and looking for the zig-zags route. We actually saw them passing the stone cairn and going too far just a few minutes earlier. They weren't even dressed properly for the mountains, not to even mention having any leader with navigation skills. We told them to go back and be sure not to miss the cairn this time.

Going down to the lake

There's a few ups and downs Reeks ridge with Cnoc an Chuillinn being the longest pull up after dropping down from Cnoc na Toinne. Maolan Bui is only a small bump and then after Knocknapeasta comes knife edge and exposed ridge to The Big Gun. The condition on the ridge were very tough with more rain and wind every minute. And guess what happened next...

We got a little bit misplaced (we never get lost by the way)...

It all happened when Denis started avoiding the exact ridge line to keep the group safe in this conditions. Myself (Anna) stayed on the top of the ridge and followed it to the summit of the Big Gun. Avoiding the ridge brought Denis too low and too far to the right. After contacting him I went back and then down a good bit to meet them. After looking at the map and discussing our current location which was the south eastern spur of The Big Gun going down to Lough Googh, we decided that we had enough of that rain and quickly planned our escape route. We descended to the lake, getting out of that cloud and then followed the river to the road. From there we walked through the Gap of Dunloe to Kate Kearney's Cottage.

Gap of Dunloe, cheers :)

It was the best decision not to go back up from the place where we met again with Denis as the rocks on the ridge were very slippy and uneasy to scramble. In this bad weather conditions I didn't feel comfortable enough on the ridge that I haven't done before and both of us, myself and Denis knew, that the others wouldn't be happy to continue.

Safety First. Always.

There will be another day...

Black Mare Gully up Carrauntoohil

Carrauntoohil from the other side for change and much less know ascent route. Black Mare Gully is located at the eastern end of the Coomloughra Glen and it starts from the Hydro Road car park. 

Climbing up the grassy Black Mare Gully

Follow the steep concrete road until you reach Lough Eighter and  then, instead of climbing up for Caher route or Skregmore to Beenkeragh ridge, continue on the left side of the lakes rising up slightly. The path might not be clearly visible in places, but with having the lakes on your right hand side you can't go wrong.

Caher Ridge in front of us

The views of the lakes and the valley on a clear day are just fantastic and luckily we could enjoy them, despite a few showers, as we walked straight towards the steep slopes of Carrauntoohil and Caher, having Caher Ridge just in front of us. Soon we arrived to the top of the last of the three lakes and started climbing up to the bottom of the gully. The gully is very steep and grassy with some small loose stones. It's much less climbed than the other gullies (O'sheas, Central and Curved) and that makes it more difficult. There's no obvious path, you just have to find your own, avoiding standing on loose stones when possible and using your hands when needed.

Half way up the gully

Looking towards Caher

It can be very slippery after the rain. This side of the mountain  remains in the shade for most of the time and stay wetter for longer. And we were climbing it just after the rain... 

We had to hold on to the grass with our hands with each step. It was a bit awkward sometimes but we managed to the top without any major problems.

At the top of the gully you join the path which is Caher route and a part of Coomloughra Horseshoe. You're only 10 - 15 minutes away from the summit and its only about 300 m of a gradual climb north-west direction.

The view from the top of the gully

From the top after lunch break we descended via Caher route following the ridge to the top and then down and up again to Caher West Top. All it's left after that is a long and gradual descent, just perfect to kill your knees if they didn't suffer so far. And if they're still ok after that, the last steep section of the concrete road will do the job. But you'll of course forget everything about the knee pain the day after (or maybe two) and go climbing again as soon as possible. That's what we always do. We're addicted with no doubt :)

Caher, another climb before descending