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Cnoc na d' Tarbh & Cnoc an Bhraca from Kate Kearney's Cottage

Start/Finish

Large, free, car park opposite Kate Kearney's Cottage, a pub, in the Gap of Dunloe which is signposted off the N72 Killorglin road to the west of Killarney.

Distance/Time

13 km     Approx 5 - 6 hours

Peaks

Drishana, 464 m, V 865 839.

Cnoc na d' Tarbh, 655 m, V 862 850     (Irish National Grid System)

Cnoc an Bhraca, 731 m, V 858 854.

Struicin, 440 m,, V 866 882.

Irish OS Discovery Series Map 78 (1:50000)

Irish OS Macgillycuddy's Reeks (1:25000)

Introduction

These hills are essentially outliers of MacGillycuddy's Reeks being the end of of the Eastern Reeks ridge. Part of this route is sometimes walked by those heading for Cruach Mhor and beyond but, usually, only if they have a car at the finish otherwise it can be a long walk back. They offer good views of Cruach Mhor, The Big Gun and Cnoc na Peiste to the west and the Purple Mountain range to the east. There are paths most of the way but they can be faint in places. The ground up to Drishana and Cnoc na d' Tabh is quite complex and would be confusing in mist but these hills are best walked on a clear day anyway to enjoy the views.

Route

(1) From the car park, walk up the scenic Gap of Dunloe road to the head of the gap which is just above some hair pin bends. By the sign at the top, an obvious, but rough, path heads up the western side. Follow this path, faint in places, up the rocky hill side. It shadows a fence as far as a grassy shoulder. There is no need to cross the fence. From the shoulder, the ground is a lot easier but would be confusing in mist and the ill - defined ridge has several “bumps” on it with the last one seeming to be the summit of Drishana, 464 m, although there is no cairn. The top seems to be on a short ridge which is slabby on one side and grassy on the other.

(2) Continue slightly W of N, descending very slightly to reach the foot of the broad ridge going up Cnoc na d' Tarbh. There are a few boggy areas but there is more than one path to guide you around the worst patches. Don't worry if you lose the path as another one will soon be found. Higher up, the ridge becomes more defined. When the angle eases, there are some large boulders on the summit plateau. Beyond them all is a small cairn which marks the summit of Cnoc na d' Tarbh, 655 m.

(3) Descend NNW down mainly grassy slopes to reach a wide but well defined col. Continue up in the same direction ignoring a fairly obvious path which goes more to the right, N. When the angle eases, reach a medium cairn which is clearly not the summit. Beyond is a smaller cairn then across a fence is a beacon cairn. Observations on the ground suggest that the small cairn marks the summit of Cnoc an Bhraca, 731 m, but it would be prudent to visit all the cairns.

(4) Cross the fence and walk to the beacon cairn. A path then leads down the NNE ridge. Just before it levels out, a path comes in from the right. If you cross this fence, which has some very sharp barbed wire on top, you will have to recross it later. It is better to walk down the left hand side, W, of the fence until it turns right about 500 m before Struicin. This level section can be quite boggy. At the corner, continue ahead to soon reach the large cairn which marks the summit of Struicin, 440 m. There are fine views back to Cnoc na d' Tarbh, Cnoc an Bhraca, Cruach Mhor and The Big Gun.

(5) Descend SE, on an obvious, but rough, path. At a cairn the path goes sharply left and resembles a rough stony track which zig-zags down to the road about 500 m S of Kate Kearney's Cottage.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 7^th April, 2014.

(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.