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/