A run on Seefin Mountain Glenbeigh and A Hike up Cnoc an Chuillin North Spur

A fleeting visit to Glenbeigh was available a couple of days ago when I hoped to do a spot of fishing at the nearby Rossbeigh beach and hopefully get a hike in on the way home the following day. I was working until 11am so it meant that it would be the afternoon before I could get there. I was keen to get something done before I went fishing so a run was the obvious choice. A quick look online and I settled on a circuit of Seefin mountain which wasn't too long and started right in the middle of the village. I arrived a sunny but chilly Glenbeigh at 14.50 and after a quick change I was off. I followed the Kerry Way along the quiet lane until it became a track that rose towards the aptly named Windy Gap. Now I had a choice to make. I could continue on the track and do a circuit of the mountain or I could cross over the top and drop down the far side and re-join the trail as it returned to the village. I opted for the high way. The views were amazing in all directions. It is always lovely to be somewhere new, and while I was very familiar with all the places I could see, it is great to see them from a new vantage point. Once at the gap I had managed to run shuffle most of the way and had gained over 300 metres in height. A steep pull out of the gap was followed by a couple of kilometres across boggy ground. Did I say that the views were great??. A final pull to the broad top saw me arrive at  the windswept chilly summit where the view down to Rossbeigh and Dingle bay and the Blasket Islands was particularly lovely. A steep drop through long heather was a bit of a pain but eventually easier ground is reached and I followed the excellent running trail back to the village. It had been a delight. Not too long at just over 9 kilometres and 500 metres of ascent but I was happy I had done something. I will definitely do it again.

Heading up to the Windy Gap and what a view towards Coumasaharn

I fished Rossbeigh beach but unfortunately the fish didn't oblige but when done I camped behind the dunes. I rose the following morning to occasional rain and cloudy mountain tops coupled with a chilly breeze. I wasted no time in packing up and I was on the move by eight. A coffee from the local supermarket and my overnight oats saw me ready to head to the Reeks. I parked at Lisliebane and put on my waterproofs and set off into the Hags Glen. Rain filled the back of the glen and the cloud was down to about 600mtrs so it didn't really look too inviting. The forecast promised that it would clear in the afternoon and I hoped against hope that it might come sooner but I wasn't optimistic. As I walked in I decided that I would prefer to do something other than O'Sheas Gully on Carrauntoohil and opted instead to head towards the north spur of Cnoc an Chuillin.

The ridge climbs the skyline in the centre

I crosses the river at the outlet of Lough Callee and gained height gradually on the slopes above the lake until I reached Coumeenmore, a spectacular coum that nestles between Maolán Buí and Cnoc an Chuillin. I couldn't see very much of the ridge to the top as it disappeared into the cloud not too far above me but from here on the going is steep. A very impressive rock buttress is on the right edge of the ridge and the route climbs up just to the left of it. With little to distract me I just put the head down and pushed on. Unrelenting ground means height is quickly gained and I was quite pleased with how I was progressing. Higher up the ridge becomes pleasantly narrow and allows little sections of nice scrambling. Finally after the scrambling ends I reached the summit slopes and the cairn loomed out of the mist. It was windy and misty so I didn't delay and headed off the top towards Maolán Buí. Alas no views were to be had so I decided to descend the Bone. This allowed for a rapid and easy descent and before too long I re-emerged under the cloud. I followed the Black Stream to lower ground and after crossing over the Gaddagh I followed the track back to the car. It had been a very enjoyable outing despite the lack of views and it was nice to go somewhere a little different. I hadn't seen another soul all morning. I was back in the car 3 hours twenty minutes after starting. 10 kilometres covered and 900 metres ascent. Mind you by the time I finished eating a spot of lunch at the car the sun had emerged and the tops were bathed in sunshine. Thems the breaks.

Carrauntoohil beginning to clear

Waterville to Sneem Run on the Kerry Way and Coomnahorna to Coomcallee Hike

 I was in beautiful Sneem for a few days holiday this week and me being me I decided to "relax" in the best way I knew how..running and hiking.

After arriving on Saturday I wasted no time in going for a run along the lovely quiet little road that enters ever wilder scenery as it stretches towards the base of Knocknagantee. I wasn't interested in pace or time I just wanted to immerse myself in this beautiful place. I just did 9 kilometres, but it was enough. Saturday night into Sunday morning had seen torrential rain and strong winds arrive and go. I decided that staying on the road would offer the safest option so once again I ran in the same road as yesterday, this time to its end, which added a few kilometres to yesterdays outing. There was one torrential shower of rain during the run which was both chilling and invigorating at the same time. The river through the village was super spectacular as it thundered over the rocks below the bridge.

Any higher and those campers would have been in trouble

On Monday the weather was very nice so I decided that a long run on the Kerry Way would be just the job. The new "Local Link" bus services that are now available in west Kerry allowed me to catch the 12.20 bus and I arrived in Waterville at 13.10. It was a lovely sunny day and thankfully the strong winds of yesterday were now absent. Mind you the sea was still angry and carried a big big swell. I must confess to having doubts about my ability to do the run. Sneem suddenly seemed an awfully long way away. Still I was here now so off I set. After a delightful run alongside the shoreline I joined the main road for several hundred metres before a right turn onto a quiet lane. Now the only roar was the sound of the huge waves crashing ashore. The next two kilometres followed this lane before the trail rose gently along a delightful track all the way to Coomakista. I stopped several times to take some photos and I was determined not to push too hard and try and have something in the kitty for later on. As you gain height the views only get better and better and in the distance the magical Skelligs rise from the sea.

Wild and wonderful in Waterville

Out over Waterville bay and the Skelligs beyond

Coumakista ahead

 I walked the steeper section until I crested the pass and shortly after I reached the wedge tomb where I stopped and revelled in my glorious surroundings. Derrynane is without doubt one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and on a sunny day such as this I felt privileged to be here. I continued steeply down and after crossing the road I was once again on trails. The next several kilometres were mostly through the forest and it was a delight. Views may have been restricted but I loved the variety. Eventually I reached the little village of Caherdaniel and once across the road the trail continues towards another pass and Stague Fort. I ran and walked up the hill along the delightful "walk of the planets". This is a delightful idea where spherical sculptures are in place, each one representing a planet of our solar system, and these spaced at on scale distances from Caherdanial, which I guess represents the sun. A little information board tells about each planet. It means that over two kilometres pass before you finally reach Neptune. A delightful section of trail crosses the mountainside before another quiet lane takes you near Stague Fort. Another climb see you reach the crest above Bohacogram. I was pretty tired by now and had covered 20 kilometres but suddenly I felt that the end was attainable.

At the wedge tomb above Derrynane..very special

Leaving Caherdaniel

Leaving Bohacogram, starting the final furlong.

I ran down and passed the little cottage where we had stayed in the past and after the final climb I stood on the pass and could see Sneem in the distance and the mountains stretching afar on the left. I was really glad that the next few kilometres were down hill. I was pretty pooped. Having said that I was still able to keep trundling along. Once I passed over a footbridge and I reached the road that reaches to the village I was on the final stretch. It seemed interminable but eventually I found myself entering the busy little place. Through the north square and finally it was over. 29 kilometres covered in just less than four hours. I was delighted and strangely proud in equal measure. It somehow felt like I had achieved something. 

Wednesday February 26th;

After a relaxing day on Tuesday I decided that today would be a good day for a hike. A beautiful array of mountains frame the skyline from Sneem. Coomcallee is the westernmost and a series of tops and coums stretch across to Finnararagh. One day I hope to cross them all in one go but today I planned on going from Coomnahorna to Knocknagantee. The weather forecast was a deteriorating one. Yesterday it promised to be mostly dry but today it promised showers and blustery winds. Ah well, I would have to see how things went. Margaret dropped me off at the turn for the Lomonagh Loop a few kilometres from the village. It was sunny right now but there had already been a few showers and I could see more were coming. I walked easily up through the forestry and I followed the track until it came to a section of open ground from where I could climb the northeast spur of Coomnahorna. Once I gained the crest of the spur the wind was quite fierce and buffeting at times. I was delighted however by the wonderful views. Below lay the beautiful Slievenashaska Lough above which wild and rugged ground rose to Slievenashaska South Top. As an aside, the eastern face of that mountain looks to offer a few hundred metres of wonderful scrambling opportunities which I hope to explore on future visits. Today I followed the easy ground of this ridge and revelled in the wild experience. It got even wilder when a squally shower of hailstones arrived and it became quite the battle to continue. As the wind (and hail) would have been into my face if I tuned towards Knocknagantee from the top I decided that I would instead go to Coomcallee and return to the village from there.

The easy ridge to Coomnahorna

Looks like there are great possibilities for some scrambling

Vicious hail showers

And a few minutes later

As it happens the hail cleared as I neared the broad summit and conditions weren't too bad but I wouldn't take the risk of more vicious showers returning  so I continued as planned. I dropped easily to the pass and started the 200 metre climb to Coomcallee. This soon passed and before long I was walking across the big broad summit. I could see that the distant Reeks had a nice bit of snow on them and the views in all directions were gorgeous. I decided to descend on the south-eastern side of the mountain and so I could reach a forest track that would allow me an easy exit to the road and the Kerry Way. Any descent on this side of the mountain is no bargain. There are lots of bands of sandstone which can give some steep and awkward sections but with some care safe progress can be made. Eventually I reached the track, road and Kerry Way and this I followed until I reached the lane that goes to Sneem where Margaret saved me the final couple of kilometres. It had been a relative short outing of just four and a quarter hours but I had covered over 16 kilometres and almost 1000 metres of ascent.

The Dunkerron Mountains and the snow capped distant Reeks

To finish off the day I went fishing at Waterville beach and it was a wonderful session. Plenty of bass obliged with the biggest well over 6lbs.

Curve Gully Carrauntoohil

Last week a proper cold snap arrived. A good dump of snow and temps down to minus 8 meant that for a full week we had wonderful winter weather. Alas the heavy snowfall meant that the roads were not drivable and as I was working every day I wasn't able to get to the mountains until Saturday. Indeed it felt a little surreal driving back and seeing the fields either side still under a white blanket and the roadsides high with snow where the snow plough had been. Once I turned off the main road beyond Killarney I was relieved to find that the road all the way to Cronins Yard was okay with a little care. My oh my but the mountains looked wonderful. It was also clear that there was a substantial thaw underway and the rock ridges and faces were fast becoming snow free.

The rescue were on a training exercise

 I left a fairly quiet car park and set off in the trail towards the Hags Glen. What a gorgeous morning it was. Crisp without being cold and clear skies and little or no breeze promised it would be a great day. Crossing the wet stony ground towards Coumeenoughter only confirmed the extent of the thaw and the snow was quickly turning to slush. I suspected and feared that when I reached Curve Gully I would be sinking deep into the snow. The climb between level one and two of the coum was up a snow field and there was a good set of steps to follow. These weren't too deep and provided a reasonably firm footing. Hope rose. When I finally reached the banked out base of the route I decided to see what it was like without crampons. It was fine all the way to the top. I just used the ice axe for security. I had thought that if The Step was in condition I would have gone up that route instead as it offers a nice Grade 2 outing but it was far from complete as was The Lick.

Everything disappearing fast

 I really enjoyed the climb. It was stress free on decent snow from the bottom to the top and once it was over I topped out to brilliant sunshine and wonderful views. There were a few people on the summit and each were marvelling at the benign conditions. I sat and had a bite to eat before making my way to the top of the Devils Ladder. I decided to descend here and things were initially easy as a good bank of snow was well stepped so progress was swift. Alas the bottom third of the gully had less cover and it became an exercise in trying to avoid breaking through the snow into the streams below. Torturous was how I would describe it and I was very tired and relieved to reach flatter ground near the bottom. There still was a fair old way to go but eventually I reached the car a tired but happy boy. Curve in winter offers a delightful way to the top of the mountain.