To top out on The Bones, the highest point along the rocky arete between Carrauntoohil and Beenkeragh, one must cross part or all of the ridge. To gain access to this ridge refer to the mv short summary for Carrauntoohil. The start of the clearly defined path leading to the ridge lies about 100m SW down the shoulder from Carrauntoohil summit at V803 844 A. Drop down steeply NNW along it's line passing, on the way, the tops of Curved Gully, Central Gully and O' Shea's Gully, three established scrambling routes up from the Hag's Glen to Carrauntoohil. The climb up to The Bones (the high point of the Beenkeragh Ridge) is over rocky exposed ground and great care is needed in windy and/or wet conditions. The effort in getting there is rewarded by very fine views around the full Coomloughra Horseshoe walk, a circuit frequently used to climb Ireland's three highest mountains Caher, Carrauntoohil and Beenkeeragh, with The Bones, the fourth 3000 ft top, thrown in for good measure. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/7/comment/4767/

This is the highest point on the ridge between Carrauntoohil and Beenkeragh. Known as the 'Tooth of Carrauntoohil' or as 'Knockoughter'. It is NOT the Hag's Tooth. The top is just above the worn path that runs along the ridge. Easy to get to if you climb up to it. Not recommended in windy weather as it has steep sides. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/7/comment/1669/

We camped in Killarney on Thusday night to get an early start on Friday morning.
The plan was to take in the Coumloughra Horseshoe.We started at 9.30 am and finished at 5.30 pm.
It was a fine clear day with some of the best weather I have ever had for walking. We avoided the heat and had a lovely ,cool sea breeze for the whole day. We crossed the ridge to Carrauntoohil at 2.00 pm. The scramble down from Beenakeragh is over large blocks of rock but I didn't feel it was dangerous at any point. once on the ridge the going is on a very obvious path and the only really exposed point is where this path crosses The Bones, it is really necessary to take your time and be careful as one slip means several hundred feet of a fall.After crossing The Bones, there is a scramble up loose rock/stones on a very steep path. If you use sticks put them away before crossing this ridge , you will have to use your hands. However , this ridge must be one of the best for views in Ireland, I have seldom enjoyed a walk so much. The photo was taken on the path near the start of the ridge with The Bones in the centre just to the right of the boulders and Carrauntoohil in the left corner.The path can be seen (to the right) snaking its way through towards Carrauntoohil.It stays mostly to the right (west)of the ridge line and has three exposed parts.The longest and trickiest of these is under The Bones, where the path drops around the left(east) side for about 100 mtrs. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/7/comment/1814/

Having managed to stand up AND look through a viewfinder whilst on top of The Bones, I only succeeded in proving that exposure is really difficult to capture on camera! Ah well. As noted by others, if continuing to Carrauntoohil, the path moves over to the left side here, which seems illogical (because that's the really steep side) until you actually see it. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/7/comment/2822/

Up to last November I often gazed at at some of the big names of the McGillycuddy’s Reeks and wondered when I would ever get to climb them. In particular I was looking at The Big Gun & The Bones. Both are situated in somewhat precarious positions – The Big Gun lies elusively on the narrow ridge between Cruach Mhor and Cnoc Na Peiste, and requires a scramble across this ridge from either of its giant neighbours. The Bones is situated on the narrow ridge between Carrauntoohil and Beenkeeragh, and similarly requires a scramble across from either of these giants. Not being one who is particularly fond of narrow, rocky & harrowing ridges and arêtes, I knew I could be waiting for a long time before I would stand on these summits. Thanks to the MountainViews Scavvy walk last November I managed to reach the summit of The Big Gun and the rest of the 900’s in the Eastern reeks. This left only The Bones in that small list of 14 summits that poke above 3000 feet in Ireland.

This weekend I was part of a scout group that intended to climb Carrauntoohil. MountainViews member Jackill kindly agreed to accompany us in order to look at the possibility of taking me across to The Bones and back to Carrauntoohil to rejoin the group for the homeward trek. Saturday dawned the most fabulous day ever, with clear skies and an ever present cloud inversion for miles around. The group reached Carrauntoohil via Caher in record time, and we gazed in awe at the various mountains peeking out of the cloud around and below us. Our scouts were in good shape and in good spirits so we made the decision to bring the whole group across the Beenkeragh Ridge to join me on my quest. And so it was that our scouts were the first in their Unit’s history to complete the Coumloughra Horseshoe, when we decided to carry on over Beenkeragh and return to the Hydro Road via Beenkeragh.

The Beenkeragh Ridge and The Bones summit are a serious challenge, and several sections require concentrated scrambling. With the support of 5 leaders (including honorary 112th Knocklyon leader Jackill) we saw our 12 hardy scouts safely across. Slow and steady was the mantra, and we saw the best of mutual assistance given and received by the scouts as they helped each other with practical tips and psychological support. They say true bravery is doing something you are scared to do, and we saw the bravest of people that day.

We were lucky to have the perfect combination of factors to make this possible – perfect weather, no wind or rain, experienced climbers and plenty of time. These are the things I would suggest are needed by those people who wish to cross the Beenkeragh Ridge and tackle The Bones, and who may be just that little bit unsure. I’ve waited several years before I got to do this climb, and I’m glad I finally got to do it with the finest bunch of people I could have wished for! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/7/comment/6697/