Walk 5051 - printer friendly version

Carrauntoohil from Lough Acoose Walk

Author - Paul Gasson

Length - 7.0 miles / 11.4 km

Ascent - 3500 feet / 1061 metres

Grade - very hard

Start from Lough Acoose (Grid ref. 762857) heading almost due east round the left hand end of a massive outcrop. Once clear of the outcrop head ESE towards a small peak (Grid ref. 775852), which marks the start of the ridge.

Follow this ridge up the steadily steepening slopes of Caher, with steep cliffs to your left. The path is vague or non existent, needing careful navigation in poor weather. From the second, true summit of Caher (3200ft) follow the crest of the ridge carefully as it twists and turns, with steep drops to either side. Then the ridge broadens out and climbs to the summit of Carrauntoohil, Irelands highest peak at 3414ft.

The descent from here to the rocky knife edge leading to Beenkeragh needs careful navigating, retracing your steps about 80metres before turning almost due north onto a rapidly narrowing and steepening ridge. The descent to the knife edge can be loose, with precipitous drops ahead, and the path along the knife edge twists and turns around and over some impressive pinnacles.

In wet weather the route is best avoided.Finally a small col is reached at the start of a boulder strewn scramble up to the summit of Beenkeragh. The ridge now becomes broader again for the 3/4 mile to the final summit, Skregmore (2790ft).

Descend a shoulder, WSW until the outward path is regained for a return to Lough Acoose (or if exhausted, follow the rough service road to the hydro electric scheme and return to the car along the road).

NOTE - The ridge to Beenkeragh is more technically difficult than Crib Goch, and in poor visibility, good navigational skills are mandatory!

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