22nd May  2022.

“A”  walk;     Purple Mountain.

Area;          Gap of Dunloe / Killarney.

Meeting Point.      Annascaul at 10:00

Meeting Point  2;    Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Starting point;   Head of the Gap.

Finishing Point;    Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Distance;   6  miles,  9.5 KM.

Maximum Elevation;    2729 ft.  832 M.

Time;      4  hours  approx.

Grade;          Difficult.

Terrain;   Open mountainside,  minor road.

Leaving Annascaul at 10:00 we drive to Kate Kearney’s cottage in the Gap of Dunloe and pool cars for the return.  Then we drive to the Head of the Gap where we park our cars.  Note that there is limited space here.    We begin our trek upwards towards Purple Mountain over bog and heather covered ground till we reach Glas Lough.   This small lake is nestled close into the mountain and after a brief rest we proceed onwards.  The ground becomes steeper and stonier as we approach the summit of Purple.  Be aware that there is a false summit just before Purple and in foggy weather it can be confusing.   We head North Eastwards from purple until we summit Tomies South, spot height 757.  Then onwards to Tomies.   The descent to the floor of the Gap in long and torturous and will take quite a time. On reaching the road below we head for Kate Kearney’s Cottage where we reach our cars and send  a couple to pick up the cars at the Head of the Gap.

“B”  walk;      Strickeen (Gap of Dunloe).

Meeting Point;   Annascaul at 10:00

Starting and finishing point;   Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

Length;  4.5 miles,  7.2 KM,

Highest point;      1445 ft,  440 M.

Grade;  moderate.

Terrain;      Minor road, well constructed mountain path, boggy track.

We drive to Kate Kearney’s Cottage with the “A”  walkers and walk up the Gap road.   After half a mile we turn right and follow the very well made mountain track towards Strickeen.  This track gives great views of the Gap of Dunloe itself and there are many hairpin bends as we continue to climb.  The good path ends in a boggy plateau near the summit of Strickeen but it only takes a few minutes from there to reach the top.  We have a shorter way down to the stony track heading North East and in no time at all we will be back to the Gap road and Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

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MOUNTAINEERING IRELAND PARTICIPATION STATEMENT.

Mountaineering Ireland recognises that hill walking, climbing and rambling are activities with a danger of personal injury or death.

Participents in these activities ahould be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their actions and involvement.

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