Tom Anderson remembers:
The Coomloughra Horseshoe is a delight to walk! A circuit Ireland’s highest Mountain plus a great scramble en route!
I started at the Hydro road at a new car park at the west end of the circuit. A concrete path climbs up to the lower Lake which gives a fine view of the full circuit of hills. My route took me left on a broad ridge leading to Skregmore & on to Beenkeragh via two other summits. All with no difficulties. On reaching this point you reach the really interesting part of the outing. This is the Beenkeragh Arete which no faces you! This cannot be taken lightly! The ridge is spectacular as well as loose & slippery with a lot of exposure so great care should be taken on the crossing. There are two walkers routes around the high point of the ridge so you have a choice. Continue along passing the top of a gully until you reach the col and an easy walk to the summit of Carrauntoohil. The view from the summit is very good of the ridge of the Reeks showing the remaining 3,000ers to good effect.
The final part of the horseshoe is comparatively easy, a good track leads along the summit of Caher, to join the outgoing route to Coomloughra. But if you have the time and fitness you can continue down to the top of O’sheas Gully and on over the remaining 3000ers and down to Kate Kearney’s Cottage but this does need a helpful driver to do this to pick you up there! On my first trip over the horseshoe some years ago I had the driver (Anne) to meet me there! But it does mean a backtrack to do Caher. This time my aging body and no taxi put that idea out of bounds. So I took in Knockbrinnea on the way up instead.
This outing was a great day out, but as I was in my mid 70s it was just about enough for one day. Ireland has many great walks, generally very quiet so you can enjoy the solitude as well.
Tom Anderson (Ageing)
Tom’s photos of the walk:
