Get Lost Mountaineering

Knockowen from top of Healy Pass

Start/Finish

From Killarney, take the N71 road to Kenmare then the R571 to Lauragh where the R574 takes one to the top of the scenic Healy Pass. There should be no doubt as to when one is there but there is also a seasonal gift shop and large cross just over the top of the pass. There is a good parking area, on the right, just before the top of the pass where cars can be parked at right angles to the road.

Distance/Time

6 km      About 2 hours

Peaks

Knockowen, 658 m, V 808 553 (Irish National Grid System)

Irish OS Discovery Series Map 84 (1:50000)

Introduction

This is a straightforward walk up a grassy/bouldery ridge where any rocky difficulties are easily avoidable athough most of the rock is slabs rather than crags and can easily be walked up. There are good views of Hungry Hill, Knockagree and Maulin but the best view is across Glanmore Lake to the Tooth Mountain range in which Eskatariff and Lackabane are very prominent.

Route

(1) Walk up the road to the top of the pass. A faint path goes off left before trending left towards the main ridge. This path is very intermittent and may be quickly “lost”. In the first dip, look across and right where there is a superb example of the power of freeze thaw with cracks in a substantial rock face. There are further dips on the ridge. Once on the ridge, continue upwards on easy ground with any rocky parts easily avoidable. The direction is roughly NE then NNE before finishing NE. The summit has a medium cairn but the highest point is a blade of rock about 4 m before.

(2) Retrace the outward route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 15^th September, 2012.

(b) The Fossa camp and caravan site, at V 910 923 is very good and very well situated for the Killarney mountains, especially Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain as it is only about 3 miles from Kate Kearney's Cottage. At Fossa, there are camping and caravanning facilities as well as a hostel and static trailer vans can also be hired. For campers, there are excellent showers (small extra charge) and there is a good campers’ kitchen with tables, sinks and cooking area if you have your own cooker and pans. Gas rings are available (small extra charge). There is also a TV room. Reception is open quite late in the high season and the staff are very helpful. A computer is available for hire and there is a freezer in reception. There is a bus stop outside the site for Killarney. There is a 24 hour Tesco which is off the northern bypass (turn right at 4^th roundabout then right at next). Out of high season, it can be better for 2 people to rent a trailer van than to camp separately.