Baurtregaum and Caherconree. The first day of Spring.

 

The forecast for today was stellar. A frosty morning was to be followed by a sunny day so I decided to make the most of it and head west once again. I left home on a beautiful frosty morning and head d for the Slieve Mish mountains. The plan for today was to enjoy a hillwalk in the morning before doing a spot of fishing in the afternoon. The less said about the fishing the better so I'll concentrate on the hike.

Up one side and down the other. A blue sky day

Easier climbing on the final section.

I parked at the end of the little lane near Derrymore and after considerately parking in in the limited space available I set off up the trail. The plan was to do the wonderful Baurtregaum Caherconree horseshoe. This gives a worthy outing with wonderful views as it crosses over the 13th and 20th highest mountains in the country. A few minutes on the trail and I reached the Dingle Way. I turned left and crossed the river and then headed directly towards the steep heather strewn slopes that rise unremittingly for several hundred metres that lead eventually to the summit of the east top of Baurtregaum. It is a tough grind but eventually at after 400 metres of slog the angle eases for a short while before another pull sees you arrive at easy ground at over 650 metres. The ground gets better here as well and so do the views. Not that they have been too bad so far. Early doors the views west to the end of the peninsula are great and as you get higher you get the fell of entering wild high mountain ground. The final slopes to the main ridge pass easily enough and suddenly up here the glories and wonders of Dingle Bay and the mountainous terrain of the Iveragh Peninsula stretch from east to west. 

The Reeks and more

Caherconree

It would have been easy to stop for a while and soak in the majesty but the stiff breeze that took all the already scant heat from the sun made it a chilly place indeed. That said, I have been up here in horizontal hailstones and  storm force winter winds so today was a real pleasure. The walking from the broad stony top of Baurtregaum to the col under Caherconree is easy. Once down it is a short easy climb, along an initially narrow(ish) ridge before the second summit of the day is reached. Caherconree is one of my favourite viewpoints in the country. As well as the wonders of the Iveragh Peninsula, the full glory of the Dingle Peninsula is laid out before you as it stretches away to the west. The ground sweeps sharply down towards Camp village and the juxtaposition of blue sea and mountains is a heady mix. I walked as far as the sheltering rocks atop of the nearby Gearhane, and here I enjoyed a bite to eat and revelled in the day. After lunch/brunch it is an easy descent along the broad ridge before a final drop down some steep heather covered ground see you return to the trail you started on. I arrived back at the car just 3 hours 20 minutes after starting. 11 kilomertres covered and almost 1000 metres ascent. What a beautiful start to the day.

Away to the wast

What a view.

Can't say that the fishing was all bad :)