“The Matterhorn of Ireland”

Almost in the centre of the spine of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks Carrantuohill stands proud as the highest mountain in Ireland, at a height of 1.039Mtrs/3.123Ft, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in County Kerry in the south west of Ireland.
The climb up and back from Carrantuohill offers some of the best views to be found anywhere in Ireland.
While the walk is demanding it is achievable, once you have a reasonable good level of fitness and the invigorating trill for reaching the summit will sooth away any effects that the climb may have caused you.

Day 1, Drive Dublin to Killarney Co. Kerry

Our route sees us leaving the east coast at 12.00noon for Killarney.
The journey takes us west across the country in the direction of Limerick, then south west to Killarney.
Driving time will be approximately 4.30min, but we will stop many times on our way for food etc.
Once we have booked into our accommodation in Killarney we will take a short walk around the town.
Killarney (Cill Airne in Gaelic) means the Church of the Sloes; sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush, used mainly nowadays for the making of sloe gin or wine.
The town is over 250 years in existence as a travel destination and in that time has gained a wealth of experience in looking after its guests.

Day 2, Carrantuohill

From Killarney our drive takes us in loop around the MacGillycuddy Reeks, passing the Gap of Dunloe to reach Lough Acoose.
Our walk starts following The Hydro Road past Lough Eighter in the Coomloughta Glen to join the spur of Caher and onto Caher Mountain (1001Mtrs/3000Ft).The view from here on a clear day is simply beautiful.
The final section of our walk to the reach the summit of Carrantuohill takes us along the Caher Ridge, which once again offers superb views in all directions.
After a small celebration for reaching the summit of Ireland’s highest mountain and a photo session we will start our descent back along the Caher Ridge to Caher. Here we will join a spur that leads us to Curragh More Mountain (822Mtrs/2470Ft) and down to join the Kerry Way and back to our bus at Lough Acoose.

Distance: 17Km/10.6Miles Ascent: 875Mtrs/2625Ft  

Day 3, Muckross House & Gardens and depart for home