Carrauntoohil
1,039 m
Ireland
Also known as Carrantuohill, Καραντούελ, +4Also known as
Carrantuohill · Καραντούελ · Carrauntuohill · Corrán Tuathail · Карантуилл · Carrauntoohill
- Elevation
- 1,039 m
- Prominence
- 1,039 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 2
AdvisoryReported 21 Feb 2025
At Kerry Mountain Rescue Team's request, Google removed inappropriate walking routes on Carrauntoohil from Google Maps after walkers following them became cragfast. The team advises never to navigate by Google Maps and to use a hillwalking map and compass.
radiokerry.ie
Routes
2The traditional 'tourist route' up Ireland's highest mountain: a track from Cronin's Yard into the Hag's Glen between Lough Gouragh and Lough Callee, then the Devil's Ladder, a steep, badly eroded gully of loose scree and boulders, to the col and the broad slope to the summit cross. Allow 6 hours return; many now descend by the Zig Zags.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +893 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,039 m
- Time Up
- 3h 44m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 33m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Cronin's Yard (or the Lisleibane car park just to the west) follow the track into the Hag's Glen, crossing the Gaddagh River and later a ford that needs care after prolonged heavy rain; in spate the river can be impassable. The path passes between Lough Gouragh and Lough Callee, becomes less distinct over waterlogged ground and reaches the foot of the Devil's Ladder below the col between Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Toinne. The Devil's Ladder is a steep gully filled with loose scree and boulders, severely eroded in its upper section. Stay in the bed of the gully rather than on the flanking slopes, and watch for stones knocked down by parties above or onto parties below. From the col, bear right up the long summit slope; the path is vague at first and branches, but all variations lead to the summit and its steel cross. In poor visibility avoid drifting left onto the dangerous ground above Curragh More or right onto the narrow track towards the 'Heavenly Gates'. There are no safe descents to the north, north-east, east or south-east of the summit; the top of Howling Ridge has been mistaken for a way down. Kerry Mountain Rescue gives an initial magnetic bearing of 192° from the summit back to the Devil's Ladder track. Because descending the loose gully endangers others, many walkers return by the old 'Bóthar na Gige' Zig Zags on the flank of Cnoc na Toinne, which add ascent and are themselves eroded and slippery when wet or icy. Brother O'Shea's Gully, via the Eagle's Nest corrie, is a popular alternative ascent with short, exposed scrambling steps.
Start
Cronin's Yard140 m
- No public transport to Cronin's Yard; about 45 minutes by road from Killarney
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cronin's Yard → Carrauntoohil | 6.1 | 893 | 0 | 3h 44m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Cronin's Yard140 m
- Feature: Lough Gouragh339 m
not on route line
- Crux: Devil's Ladder643 m
loose, eroded gully to the col between Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Toinne
- Summit: Carrauntoohil1,039 m
Key Passages
- Gaddagh River and Hag's Glen fords (impassable in spate)
- Devil's Ladder gully (loose scree and boulders)
- Summit slope navigation; no safe descents north, north-east, east or south-east
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
Ireland's highest mountain (1,038.6 m), the sandstone hub of MacGillycuddy's Reeks in County Kerry, ringed by corries, gullies and arêtes. A summit cross tops a mountain that is modest in height but steep, loose and cliff-bound, with frequent rescues in cloud.
Carrauntoohil stands at the centre of MacGillycuddy's Reeks on the Iveragh Peninsula, south-west of Killarney. Glaciers carved its Old Red Sandstone into three ridges: the knife-edged Beenkeeragh Ridge to the north, the Caher Ridge to the west and a broad south-east spur dropping to the col at the top of the Devil's Ladder. Three glens surround it: the Hag's Glen to the east, Coomloughra to the west and Curragh More to the south. On the north-east face, the Eagle's Nest corrie holds Lough Cummeenoughter, Ireland's highest lake, beneath Curved, Central and Brother O'Shea's gullies.
Most walkers climb from Cronin's Yard through the Hag's Glen and up the Devil's Ladder, a once-grassy gully now badly eroded into loose scree. Alternatives include Brother O'Shea's Gully from the Eagle's Nest, the Caher spur from the Hydro Track, and the Coomloughra Horseshoe over Ireland's three highest summits. The mountain is also part of the 26 km Reeks Ridge walk.
At barely over 1,000 m it is easy to underestimate. The summit is surrounded by cliffs, with no safe descent to the north, north-east, east or south-east, and Atlantic weather often brings cloud, rain and strong wind. Kerry Mountain Rescue Team attends many incidents each year, from navigation errors and cragfast walkers to injuries on the loose ground.
Climbing Notes
Allow about 6 hours for the Devil's Ladder or Caher routes and up to 8 hours for the Coomloughra Horseshoe. You need a reasonable level of hill fitness, sure-footedness on loose scree and steep wet ground, and above all reliable navigation with map and compass: Kerry Mountain Rescue asks that every group includes someone able to navigate in white-out and darkness, and publishes initial descent bearings from the summit. Do not rely on Google Maps or phone apps; unsuitable routes shown online have led walkers onto cliffs.
Go up the Devil's Ladder rather than down it where possible, staying in the gully bed and watching for stonefall; the Zig Zags are the usual descent. Check river levels: the Hag's Glen fords can become impassable after heavy rain. In winter conditions an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them are needed, especially on the summit slopes and gullies. If inexperienced, go with a guide; Kerry Mountain Rescue can supply a list of local guides. Dogs are not permitted by the landowners.
History
The Irish name Corrán Tuathail is usually translated as 'Tuathal's sickle', though its origin is uncertain. The local community erected a wooden cross on the summit in the 1950s; it was replaced in 1976 by a 5 m steel cross, which was cut down in 2014 by people protesting against the Catholic Church and re-erected shortly afterwards. The Reeks are privately owned commonage rather than a national park; since 2014 the MacGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain Access Forum has brought landowners, walkers and agencies together on access and path erosion, including an audit and costed repair plan for the Devil's Ladder and other paths.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Short days; snow and ice possible on the upper slopes
- Feb
- Wintry conditions possible; ice axe and crampons may be needed
- Mar
- Changeable; snow possible high up
- Apr
- Longer days; still changeable
- May
- Often the best mix of daylight and drier weather
- Jun
- Long days
- Jul
- Busy; hot days bring dehydration call-outs
- Aug
- Busy; frequent Atlantic rain
- Sep
- Quieter; often settled
- Oct
- Shorter days; wet and windy spells
- Nov
- Short days; storms; rivers in spate
- Dec
- Short days; wintry conditions possible
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Cronin's Yard car park: €2 (coin at the exit barrier, long-standing charge); toilets and café (weekends only in winter)
- Honesty boxes for the MacGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain Access Forum at the Lisleibane and Breanlee car parks and on the route into the Hag's Glen
- Rules
- Dogs are not permitted on Carrauntoohil at the request of the landowners
- The mountain is privately owned commonage; access depends on landowners' goodwill
- Groups of 10 or more are asked to submit a group registration form to the MacGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain Access Forum
- Getting There
Killarney (Beaufort is the nearest village to Cronin's Yard)
Kerry Airport (KIR)
- By car from Killarney via the N72 towards Killorglin, then signed lanes to Cronin's Yard (about 45 minutes)
- Hydro Track trailhead on the Killorglin–Glencar road, about 30 km west of Killarney
- Rail and bus to Killarney; no public transport to the trailheads
Hazards
- Weather
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- River crossing