Friday 11th June - Night Hike contact John on 086-2772633
Sunday 13th June - Hike 1 (easy/medium) in Kildavin/Bunclody area contact Joe on 087-2553996 . Hike 2 ( medium) to Galtees contact Padraig 087-6602799.
The group was led by John Byrne on a glorious hot summers day starting at the car park on the Hydro Road. From here we had a steady climb to reach Lough Eighter and on arrival to the Lake we got our first panoramic view of the entire range of majestic mountains that make up the Coomloughra Horseshoe. Our assent started with the first minor top of Cnoc Iochtair at 747m. From here it was onto Skregmore followed by a steep, rocky and sometimes scrambling ascent of Beenkeragh, Ireland's second highest mountain at 1010m. After a short steep descent we were at the start of the Beenkeragh Ridge. Here, we started the traverse of the long and narrow ridge which has considerable exposure on either side . At the end of the craggy ridge we joined the path coming up from the Hag's Glen. From here we followed the rocky and scree strewn trail to the summit Carrauntoohill 1039m. Ireland's highest mountain. We stopped here for Lunch under the large cross and enjoyed the stunning views .From the summit the route descends to a soft grassy path that follows the edge of the crags that mark the head of the valley. It soon begins to rise again on the approach to Caher , Ireland's third tallest mountain standing at 1001m. . The last and final top to complete our journey of the horseshoe is to Caher West. before descending down a broad grassy ridge to Lough Eighter, and the return journey to the Hydro Road .
Photos John & Nuala