Park on the roadside at V872 838 A, room for 5 cars, and follow the track past Madmans seat and on to the Glas Loch.
Follow the west shore then steeply up to the east at the back of the lake. This path is very unstable just before the ridge at 560 meters elevation.
Cross over to the eastern side of the ridge, try to pick up zig-zig path that leads eventually to V884 851 B, the col between point 793 meters and the summit of Purple.
Continue on to Tomies
There are two ways down from Tomies.Follow a route directly rough heather which makes for slow unpleasent progress until you gain the lower slopes, it is undoubtable that this is the safer route. The other way is to descend over short heather to the top of Tomies rock . In bad visibility or windy weather be careful, it would be very easy to walk straight over the edge!. Just before you reach the the rocks there is a path close to the cliff edge which will lead you eventually down to a gentler slope- this route has magnificent views over the Gap of Dunloe. Once the lower slopes are gained at around V889 885 C head towards the green shed at V888 892 D, keep to western side of the wire fence( fence and shed are marked only on Hardys map) this marks the corner of the track back to the main road. At V887 893 E on this track either fork will take you to the main road. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/84/comment/4844/

Park at the end of the new access road at approx. V90044 89257 F. Go in the gate and follow the track around to the right. at the first bend leave the track and head south into the charming oak and holly forest keeping the stream on your right for a whole. The river can be crossed easily after a dry period but if it's in spate there are a few bridges provieed by mother Nature in the shape of fallen trees....there is one of these after about 100m but a few more further on. i would recommend staying inside the forest for as long as possible as its damp mosses and rotting logs can give you a welcome break from life's stresses if you are in receptive mood. When you do emerge from the trees you will see Tomies at the back of the stage curtained by the two northern spurs on either side of the stream. I headed up the western one and topped out on Tomies North Top after a steep pull up...stay a bit to the right to avoid tussocky grass and heather, From here there's a slight drop to a col followed by a steep and largely rocky rise to Tomies summit. The rocks are a fun way up but if you prefer more grassy terrain head on a more eastern line. You should make it to the top in well under 2 hours. I returned the same way because I had no map and there was a bit of a whiteout on my intended route via the eastern spur. If you do descend via the eastern spur it looks less steep than that which you've just ascended and you can stay on the high part of the spur and reach the forest track at approx. V90852 88255 G. If you then want to extend the walk by about 4 km head east and aim for the amazing O' Sullivan's cascades at V91523 88499 H...you won't be disappointed esp if there's been recent rain. There are other very cool falls just upstream from the bridge at V91458 88334 I.
When you go off track in these woods you are in what feels like virgin forest so tread lightly and keep the numbers in your group as low as possible. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/84/comment/21850/

Approached from the north on 19 Aug 2017, following the track along the laneway north of Kate Kearneys. Perhaps the key to finding this laneway is spotting the two wide gates side by side on the right after you pass the gift shop (Moriarty's) and then Bugler's cottage. Take the gate on the right. The laneway leaves you at the very start of the ridge from where you can follow a fence southwards initially.

The northern reaches of Tomies are boggy with heather and bracken. I'm afraid that there are now the distinct makings of a mucky track developing along this approach, which is not much better underfoot than bracken and heather. I suspect this may be linked to this route being used in recent years for a challenge walk, which tallies with earlier comments which suggested the track was very insignificant previously.

The views are spectacular once you gain the higher ground, particularly looking back into the gap of Dunloe and across to the Eastern reeks. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/84/comment/19700/

I do not seem to be alone in finding the descent from Tomies Mountain rather trying. Flogging through heather is not much fun. Where are the paths? There appear to be a few sheep (?) tracks, but mostly they go in the wrong direction. Perhaps I contributed to my own discomfort by heading towards the top of Tomies Rock to obtain a better view through the Gap (see photo), which meant I had to contour back around the hill. It was pleasant, eventually, to leave the trackless heather behind, but then I had trouble locating a route of descent from the ridge and ended up battling with gorse. Would any member who has found this ascent/descent easy please tell us how? Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/84/comment/1903/