MountainViews: Info on Carrauntoohil Corrán Tuathail (1039m) in area MacGillycuddy's Reeks

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MacGillycuddy's Reeks Area

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Maximum height for area: 1039 metres

Summits in area: 28

OS Map(s): 78 for all tops

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Carrauntoohil Mountain	Kerry County
Corrán Tuathail A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. Corrán Tuathail [GE], 'Tuathal's sickle' [OSNB])
Height: 1039 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 78 for top
Grid Ref: V80363 84421	Latitude: 51.999448 Longitude: -9.742700
ITM: 480339 584480	Prominence: 1039m Isolation: 0.4km
Just as the summit of Ireland's highest mountain is often covered in mist, its name is shrouded in uncertainty. Unlike some lesser peaks, such as Mangerton or Croagh Patrick, it is not mentioned in any surviving early Irish texts. P.W. Joyce suggest Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain in Ireland. Carrauntoohil is the highest point in county Kerry. Our data has reached 100% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Carrauntoohil ..

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Carrauntoohil in area MacGillycuddy

Picture: Looking across to the Eastern Reeks Ridge from Carrauntoohil summit. Expand pics.

The Top of Ireland.

Short Summary created by Harry Goodman 12 Dec 2011 In the past the most used way up Carrauntoohil was by the Devil's Ladder. In recent years notices have been posted strongly advising that this route should be avoided both in the interests of safety (loose rock) and avoidance of further erosion. Route 1: The Zig Zags. Park at V837 873 (Point A) Cronin's Yard (charge) and follow the track SW. After 900m cross a small stream and then, shortly after, the Gladdagh River. Continue on a relatively gentle walk up between L. Gouragh and L. Callee towards the rocky gash marking the Devil's Ladder. At V812 841 (Point B) take a ramp left up to the start of the Zig Zags V815 841 (Point C). Follow the winding track up to the plateau V81400 83450 (Point D). Turn right (W) to cross Cnoc na Toinne top and then down NW to the col at the top of the Devils Ladder V80700 83650 (Point E). Go NW up the steep bare slope to V804 841 (Point F) and then NNW to the top. Route 2: Park off road V771 871 (Point G) at the start of the concrete Hydro Road and follow up to L. Iochtair. Go S and then SE up the long spur to Caher West Top, Caher summit and it's third top before dropping down SE and then E for a superb walk around the head of Cooloughra Glen. Keeping the edge of the ridge to the left follow around and the go up NE to the summit cross. Return by way of ascent. For those so inclined this route also opens up a return by way of the arete to Beenkeragh and then down over Skregmore and Cnoc Iochtair to L. Iochtair and the Hydro Road (An anti clockwise circuit of the Coomloughra Horseshoe.)

Point A: V837 873	Point B: V812 841	Point C: V815 841
Point D: V81400 83450	Point E: V80700 83650	Point F: V804 841
Point G: V771 871	(turn area map On)

Comment Rating (4.00)

The record breaking ascent/descent pt I

by Conor74 11 Aug 2011 Got this email from a friend who does the IMRA race up and down Carrauntoohil. It goes up the Lack Road, across to Curraghmore, on to Caher and then to Carrauntoohil. Oh and then back down again of course!

The Man of the Mountain by Jonathan Beverly
As featured in the September 2011 issue of Running Times Magazine

In 1988, the second year in the modern mountain running era that a race was run up the 1,039m peak, John Lenihan, a dairy farmer from the nearby hills , blew away the field and set a time of 71:43 for the round-trip to the cross atop and back, a time that has never been broken. Lenihan went on to win the race 14 times in a row and 19 times in all before retiring when the course was changed in 2010, only losing outright twice in that streak.

Lenihan wasn’t a newcomer to racing that first year in Carrauntoohil. “My first taste of mountain running was on Peel mountain in the isle of Mann in 1983 when I won the isle of Mann Easter athletics race to the summit and back,” he recalls. “I repeated this victory in 1985 and then came back to Ireland to win the Sligo warriors mountain race.” He remembers that race as significant because of the 1,000-pound prize purse and because he beat the then reigning world mountain champ Kenny Stewart. Lenihan went on to win the world mountain championship himself when it was held in Switzerland in 1991.

Lenihan recalls some of the more difficult years: “I broke my leg in October 1999 and was kept in hospital for a week, however two weeks later I resumed training each day doing laps of the field with my crutches. I got the cast off mid-December and I won the first race of the new millennium in Kerry on January 1st. I was very nervous facing the Carrauntoohil race in June 2000 as I hadn’t been past the accident site since it happened, as I approached the area on race day I had to focus with all my might to try and maintain my composure. That day it was a very mentally exhausting experience for me.”

On other difficult years, Lenihan recalls, “I was very sick one year with the flu but I can’t remember what year it was. I couldn’t make up my mind if I would compete or not and then I decided that I would go and see how I felt when I got there. I felt no better but decided I would start out in the race and see how I felt. After a mile or two warm-up, I remember standing under a hedge in the shade watching everyone warming up and I just wanting to go to bed. Many people tried to convince me that it was too dangerous to take part as I was feverish. Strangely enough, I managed to win that day but it was sheer torture and I think it took me weeks to recover.

(Comment Rating 4.17) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Carrauntoohill in the Mist Expand pics.

A great day out!

by Hilltop-Harrier 19 Aug 2012 Part 1. Please forgive this what may seem a bit long winded, but it is purely for the amateurs among us. I have to tell you about my walk up Corrán Tuathail (1039m) Carrauntoohill, and only you hill walkers will understand the trials that lay ahead for me as I am still an amateur. I set off from Donegal in late July, my co-walkers the Hilltop Harriers would not be coming with me on this one due to injuries etc. but I was going to be near Kerry and I wasn’t going to miss out on a great opportunity. My husband, eldest daughter and her family came with me to Cronin’s yard and I just didn’t know if I was on the verge of insanity to even think on climbing this hill. Why I hear you say? Well there are two reasons one I have a bad head for heights and the other which is just as bad I have a very poor sense of direction. These are two very bad qualities to have if you’re a hill walker but I wasn’t going to let them stop me. I downloaded the route map with pictures etc. as I haven’t used an Etrex (although I told hubby to turn it on for me and I would take it to record the trek and worst case scenario someone else would get lost and they might be able to use it ).

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Climbed via zig-zag route

by deirdre.obrien 24 Sep 2012 Climbed Carrauntoohil yesterday as part of a group. Weather was great - slight cloud on top but that was all. Started from Cronins Yard and went up and down via zig zags. It was a lovely route. I was certainly glad I didn't go up or down the devils ladder. We saw a couple at the top wearing jeans and had no jackets/bags etc. So they can't have had much water. Saw them make their way down the devils ladder. They were lucky the weather was good.

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Expand pics.

by lewvalton 7 Jan 2008 Ridge up to Beenkeragh starting behind the great pillar of the Hag's Tooth (guide books we had call it the Hag's Tooth ridge) is a superb scramble. Go up to it via the steep grassy gully up to the right of the Tooth's base. Arete is longer and somewhat more testing than Brandon's Faha ridge, though perhaps slighly less exposed, but still overall within the same band of difficulty (for scramblers familiar with the UK grades it's a moderate Grade 2). The upper section breaks into two distinct ridges - we took the left hand one. More sustained scrambling here, though again not difficult. Views across to Carrauntoohil and back down to the Hag's Tooth are absolutely stupendous. Beenkeragh ridge to Carrauntoohil is much easier, though exposed if you choose to skyline it, and has all difficulties avoidable by path on the right until the large pinnacle towards the end. To skyline it is not as hard as it looks, otherwise is avoidable at mid height on the left (Coomloughra) flank. Again, works out much easier than first appears. Simple walk up to the summit from there. Magnificent views. Unlike mountains in, say, the Lake District, the great Kerry peaks rise in relative isolation unhemmed by other groups and the views, with the sea so near, are incredibly extensive - you really feel as if you're on the roof of the world. Descent via the hugely eroded Devil's Ladder truly awful. Book suggested 'The Bone' as better alternative. Couldn't be worse.

Why are the Reeks not part of the Killarney National Park?

(Comment Rating 3.71) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by milo 29 Jul 2002 In about 12 ascents I've never used the Devil's Ladder. Reduce erosion damage by opting for one of the many safe alternatives.

(Comment Rating 3.67) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

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