Get Lost Mountaineering

Bautregaum & Caherconree from near Beheenagh

Start/Finish

Small parking space (3 cars) by the notices for Caherconree Fort just to the S of Beheenagh where the road steepens considerably to climb to the top of the pass. This is on the narrow minor road from Camp to Aughills. Camp is on the N coast of the Dingle Peninsula on the orad from Tralee to Brandon. Aughills is on the S coast of the Dingle Peninsula on the R561 road from Castlemaine to Dingle. From Fossa, to the west of Killarney, drive to Milltown then to Castlemaine, turning left (not obvious or well signed) at the first turning after the river. Go through the small village of Boolteens. The road to Camp is about 5 miles further and is signed. A Petrol station is less than a mile before the turning. Drive over the pass. At the foot of the first steep descent is the start. If you reach a private road on the left, you have gone too far.

Distance/Time

13 km      About 5 hours

Peaks

Caherconree, 826 m, Q 732 073. (Irish National Grid System)

Bautregaum, 851 m, Q 750 077.      Irish OS Discovery Series Map 71 (1:50 000)

Introduction

This is an enjoyable walk over fine mountains which give excellent views to the surrounding hills especially Stradbally Mountain and Beenoskee as well as the coastal seascape including the Castlegregory Peninsula and the Magharee Islands. On a clear day, Macgillycuddy's Reeks are well seen across Castlemaine Harbour. Caherconree Fort offers an historical angle to the walk. There are informative notices at the start. All that really remains of the Fort is a wall, high in places. The Fort is on a plateau with steep drops on its edges so take care in this area.

Route

(1) Follow the faded red and white marker posts from the start. The ground is wet and boggy in places and some posts are not visible from the one before. The posts lead across the grassy coom, under an outcrop on the right, to join the S ridge from the Fort. The posts continue to the Fort of which only one wall remains. A faint path leads uphill, NE, from the Fort with a steep edge on the left. There are some distinctive rocks on the way. Higher up, there are two cairns. Once past these, drift ENE to reach the edge of the coom to the NE of Caherconree. If the steep edge is continued to be followed, one will end up at Gearhane! Once the edge of the coom is reached, follow it E to the medium, but prominent cairn, which marks the summit of Caherconree, 826 m, and is perched right on the steep edge of the coom.

(2) From the summit, follow the edge of the coom SE, E then ENE and descend the well defined ridge which is narrow in places and slightly exposed on its S side. Reach a broad flat col with much gravel on the ground. Ascned slightly N of E, up easy stony ground. Near the top, two cairns may be noticed. Just beyond these, the large summit plateau is reached. A trig point lies within a large circular shelter cairn where most of the walls have fallen down. This marks the summit of Bautregaum, 851 m. Beyond the summit are several other shelter cairns in better condition.

(3) Retrace the outward route over Caherconree and past the fort.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 20^th April, 2013.

(b) There is a very good camp and caravan site, near the village of Castlegregory, called the Anchor Caravan Site.. It is very well laid out with good facilities for campers including hot showers for a small extra charge. There is a good campers’ kitchen with tables and sinks if you have your own cooking equipment and pans as well as a fridge and freezer. There is also a sitting room with a TV. Castlegregory is on the N side of the Dingle Peninsula. From Dingle, go over the Connor Pass, then follow the coast road towards Tralee, past Castlegregory (excellent Spar shop here) until signs appear. If you reach a large petrol station/stores on the right, you have gone too far. At the bottom of this site is a gate from where a short path goes over a sand dune to the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Well equipped trailer vans are also available for hire.