Howdy folks,

Well we nixed around Ireland with a keg and but are still headed to Carrauntoohil in July via Bridia Valley > Caher > Carrauntoohil.
Tried doing some Google Fu and checked both:

Paddy Dillion's book
The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mountains-Irel ... 1852841109

and Kieron Gibbon's book
Ireland’s County High Points
http://www.collinspress.ie/irelands-cou ... oints.html

and really couldn't find any specific info on Carrauntoohil via Bridia Valley except this:
http://steppingstonebandb.com/stepst18.htm

Any other tips or local's wisdom that might be out there?

Thanks ahead for any other info.
Best,
JM

Hi JM,

There are lots of options for Carrauntoohil - depends if you wish to walk or scramble / climb. Two good books are Munster's Mountains by Denis Lynch and The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland by Dan Bailey.

A good walking option is to do the north facing horseshoe from Cronin's Yard - about a 6 hr day with some high level walking & navigating - not for the beginner !

A good scrambling option is Howling Ridge - on NE side of Carrauntoohil - about 300m of diff / vdiff climbing almost direct to summit. Some rope up for this, but I have never felt the need. Again start from Cronin's Yard and allow about 5 - 6 hrs.

There are lots of other possibilities - westward facing horseshoe over Caher and around Coomloughra - another 6 + hrs outing.

You should be able to get lots of information on the web by googling some of the above place names. If you simply wish to summit Carrauntoohil (up and down) then it may only take you 4 hrs - but try to avoid the Devil's Ladder because of erosion etc. - a suitable route is 1 km to the east.

Enjoy your trip and hope you have good weather !

Peter R

Peter thanks for the word.
Unfortunately, we were shot down by Mudda Nature. Whoodda thunk!?

Found this to be the most detailed guidebook:
Carrauntoohil & MacGillycuddy's Reeks: A Walking Guide to Ireland's Highest Mountains
http://www.collinspress.ie/carrauntoohi ... reeks.html
https://www.amazon.com/Carrauntoohil-Ma ... 1905172338

FWIW, this was good reading whilst the rain poured down and down...

The Way That We Climbed: A History of Irish Hillwalking, Climbing and Mountaineering
https://www.amazon.com/Way-That-Climbed ... nav-subnav