(Walk description continued from Cnoc na Toinne.) From the summit of Cnoc na Toinne we had an easy walk back down to reach the saddle at the top of the Devil’s Ladder, 100m lower down. There was still 300m of climbing left on a rocky path to the summit of Carrauntoohil. Sadly, it was in the fog! Not the slightest view around! But this ascent was challenging for me and I was delighted to have made it. We had really earned our sandwiches in the shelter!
Leaving the summit after lunch, we went down the same way towards the Devil’s Ladder, but just before the saddle we turned east, then north in the direction of Lough Gouragh, picking up a path which was almost level to start with. This started to descend gradually towards the breach in the rocks known as the Heavenly Gates (8070084525 C). Most of this path was easy, but with just one really difficult part: just after passing through the Heavenly Gates, you have to descend a steep gully where you need to use your hands too, and perhaps your backside! After that we reached the mountain rescue hut, and on the next stretch (descending the slope overlooking Lough Gouragh) we encountered two places where we had to climb down facing the cliff. It was not really difficult, but we had to be quite careful. Then we just had to follow the path along the Gaddagh River to reach our car parked at Lisleibane. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1/comment/3464/