john_desmond on Carran South Top

I approached this one from the South-East side, from Bealick. The ground was very boggy and it was slow going. If I was going to do it again, I think I'd come in from the public road from the Kilgarvan side and go up the track at B (W035 662) . Looking down at this road from the summit, you realise how close it is. From here, it is only a short walk to Carran itself and the going is easier. As for the summit itself, you have a choice of 2 points. They are only about 10 metres apart. There are a few stones on the Southern one although by looking at the mountains in the background, I'd reckon the Northern one is the highest and this is where I took the GPS readings. In terms of location, this summit is not part of any obvious loop circuit and as such, it is a bit out of the way. Having completed a walk of all the Carran tops, I saw no sign of footprints or erosion which would suggest that very few people walk in this part of Kerry. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/331/comment/2294/

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simon3 on Carran South Top

Another way in to the Carran area starts at around D (W03939 68915) where there is parking for one car or perhaps a bit further east where the tarmac road stops with permission from the people that live near there.

Getting to Carran South requires going first east into the fine west facing coum. Turn right at around E (W04857 68778) and SW via tracks to F (W04138 67735). From there it is possible to get to Carran South relatively easily (or Carran)

The picture shows Carran South from Carran. Not exactly a steep sided summit! As john_desmond says this place is a bit out of the way and rarely visited. The summit on the skyline to the right is Conigar. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/331/comment/2355/

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Bealick - avoid this descent...

Putting this comment in with Carran South Top as it is the nearest summit, but guess it really applies to any walk in the popular Gougane Barra area. Parked at Gougane Barra lake, and walked Conigar and over Bealick and on to Carran South Top and Carran yesterday in driving wind and rain.

From Carran descended to the valley to the east, then walked south east making for the lowest point between Bealick and the spot height 509 to its North. From there made straight for Gougane Barra which looked like the most direct route, if a bit steep - REALLY bad idea. Fought my way through tall grass, which went above the waist in parts and hid very uneven ground, so had a few falls along the way though the thick grass at least made for soft landings. This grew progressively wilder, incorporating fern, then furze and fern, then furze fern and an absolute jungle of briars. The briar belt seemed to extend for a long long way, was fighting my losing battle through it for the bones of half an hour, and the steepness of the descent I had just come down made turning around less appealing than having arms and legs ripped. Crossed a few fences as well, hoping that they would mark more cultivated ground, but things did not get better until I was almost at the lake itself. Maybe I was unfortunate and there are easier routes above the lake, but wouldn't bank on it. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/331/comment/6086/

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Colin Murphy on Carran South Top

View of Carran (left) and Carran South Top from Knockantooreen Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/331/comment/3844/

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