mikek on Eskatarriff East Top

Climbed this as part of S to N crossing of the Beara Penninsula (along the Cork Kerry Border) starting S of Hungry Hill and finishing in Ardgroom. Hungry Hill was wonderfull with great views to the S & E, and was followed by a pleasant lunch beside Glas Loughs (Ref:A (V738 502))where my dog had numerous swims. From here to Eskatariff things started to go (metaphorically speaking) downhill. I expected the valley S of Eskatarriff to be wet, but as the weather had been dry for a number of weeks, I gave it a go. As expected, the ground was dry, however, the high marsh grass was something else. I fought my way through waist high grass for about a kilometer until I reached the start of the ascent (E of Clogher). To my despair I realised that the deep grass continued almost to the summit of Eskatarriff. I have never come across such terrain on an ascent before, and do not look forward to meeting it again. My dog went underground for the duration and occassionally had to leap up through the grass to see daylight. From Eskatarriff I crossed NW and was rewarded with a magnificant descent into the sunset heading W along the Tooreennamna ridge. This ridge has fantastic views N to the Iveragh Peninisula, the Kenmare River and Ardgroom Harbour, W to the Skelligs and SW to Glenbeg Lough. Word of warning: The W end of the ridge is very steep and rocky and descent is not recommended. I descended NW by one of the steep grassy gullies before reaching the end of the ridge. The overall route would be magnificant but for the Clogher valley, which would be made worse after wet weather when the deep grass would be accompanied soft ground. It may be possible to make the crossing over better ground via the col between Maulin N and Eskatarriff (Ref:B (V722 518)). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/391/comment/1103/

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eoin on Eskatarriff East Top

The dramatic rock dome summit on the Cummeengeera Horseshoe walk above Rabach's Glen near Lauragh. Just beyond Eskatarriff this summit is much more dramatic than its bigger brother to the west.

The photo is taken from nearby Eskatarriff Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/391/comment/937/

Nose of rock cut down to size by its neighbours.

Eskatarriff East is one of those places that looks incredibly intimidating near to. And indeed the area has had at least one accident, when on 10th October 2010 Kerry Mountain Rescue team were placed on standby after a female walker broke her ankle on the ridge just below Eskatarriff. The Team were subsequently stood down after it was confirmed that the casualty had been successfully airlifted by the Shannon Coast Guard helicopter.

However from across the glen its cliff doesn't appear so steep and it is surrounded on the left and right by higher points on the ridge. Even behind it Hungry Hill looms in the distance. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/391/comment/15020/

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A lofty edge

While it's not as high as its immediate neighbours, Eskatarriff E's steep cliff offers unrestricted views down the glen Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/391/comment/16060/

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Eskatarriff East and a mighty view to the Reeks.

Unsung, Eskatarriff East deserves yet another picture, this time from the south, the Knocknagree area.

Serendipitously, part of the Reeks appears in the keyhole between Eskatarriff East Top and Lackabane (to the right). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/391/comment/15021/

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