MacGillycuddy's Reeks
MacGillycuddy's Reeks | |
---|---|
Irish: Na Cruacha Dubha | |
Highest point | |
Peak | Carrauntoohil[1] |
Elevation | 1,038.6[1] m (3,407 ft) |
Coordinates | 52°01′N 9°42′W / 52.01°N 9.70°W[1] |
Dimensions | |
Length | 19 km (12 mi) East–West |
Naming | |
English translation | the black stacks |
Language of name | Irish |
Geography | |
Location | OSI Discovery 78 |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Devonian[1] |
Mountain type | Purple sandstone & siltstone[1] |
MacGillycuddy's Reeks (Irish: Na Cruacha Dubha, meaning "the black stacks") is a sandstone and siltstone mountain range in the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. Stretching 19 kilometres (12 miles), from the Gap of Dunloe in the east, to Glencar in the west, the Reeks is Ireland's highest mountain range, and includes most of the highest peaks and sharpest ridges in Ireland, and the only peaks on the island over 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) in height.
Near the centre of the range is
The range, part of the
Geology
MacGillycuddy's Reeks are composed of sandstone particles of various sizes, which are collectively known as the
Geography
MacGillycuddy's Reeks are variously described as consisting of two main sections, containing all ten of the Reeks that are above 3,000 ft:[5][2]
- Eastern Reeks, a high ridge connecting (west to east), .
The Eastern Reeks meet the Coomloughea Reeks at the
MacGillycuddy's Reeks contains the three peaks in Ireland which are over 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) in height, namely:
The range contains eleven of the fourteen peaks in Ireland that are over 3,000 ft (910 m) in height, and meet the
There are 29 peaks in the range above 100 m (330 ft) in height.
A feature of the range is the modest
Ownership
The entire range is held in private ownership, both in individually owned freehold parcels in the lower reaches and in commonly owned, open upland zones ('commonage'). A State-sponsored report into access for the range in December 2013 titled MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Development Assessment (also called the Mountain Access Project, or MAP), mapped the complex network of land titles.[4] Unlike many other national mountain ranges, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks are not part of a national park or a trust structure.[4][3]
The private ownership has led to issues around the upkeep of popular paths in the Reeks, most particularly the erosion of the Devil's Ladder path, which is used to summit Carrauntoohil; and various car-parks and bridges used by climbers.[11][4] The 2013 MAP report noted the importance of safety in light of the increasing climbers and walkers to the Reeks. The MAP report stated that Kerry Mountain Rescue ("KMR") logged 17 fatalities on the Reeks between 1966 and 2000, or about one every second year, but since 2000, KMR had been logging approximately 2 fatalities per annum.[2][3]
In 2019 the
Naming
The full name of the range in Irish is Cruacha Dubha Mhic Giolla Mo Chuda, meaning "the black stacks of McGillycuddy". This is commonly shortened to Na Cruacha Dubha.[12][13] The name is translated into English as "MacGillycuddy's Reeks",[13] where reek is a Hiberno-English form of the word rick, denoting a stack.[14]
The MacGillycuddys (Irish: Mhic Giolla Mo Chuda) were a sept, or branch, of the O'Sullivan Moore clan. The MacGillycuddy is recorded as being one of a smaller number of Gaelic chieftains whose lands were returned post the Cromwellian confiscations, which explains why the name survives to this day.[13] The MacGillycuddy family tomb is at Kilgobnet, County Kerry, between the mountains and Killorglin.[13] The clan chief, McGillycuddy of the Reeks, owned land in this part of Munster until the end of the 20th century.
Recreation
Visitors
Jim Ryan's 2006 book on the Reeks, Carrauntoohil and MacGillycuddy's Reeks: A Walking Guide to Ireland's Highest Mountains, stated that there were 25,000 annual visitors to the Reeks.[2] The 2013 MAP report quoted Ryan's figures, which were cited in the MAP's Terms of Reference, but stated that: "The Reeks are accessed by at least 25,000 recreational users per annum. It is highly likely that the numbers are a factor of 4 times higher based on observation of the year-round level of usage – but data is required to ascertain the visitor numbers."[4] It was estimated that 125,000 visitors entered the range in 2017 from footfall at three main access points,[11] and that 140,000 entered in 2018 by recording footfall at four main access points.[3] The Reeks are a popular subject for artists and photographers, with souvenir prints offered for sale among "Views of Ireland."[15][16]
Hill walking
The most common reason for visiting the Reeks is to climb Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil. The popular route starts from Cronin's Yard (V837873) and enters the Hag's Glen to climb the Devil's Ladder (the col between
MacGillycuddy's Reeks is particularly regarded for the quality of its ridge walking routes,
The most challenging route is the full MacGillycuddy's Reeks Ridge Walk, a 12- to 14-hour, 26-kilometre (16 mi) traverse of the entire range.[2] The route normally starts at the eastern end from Kate Kearney's Cottage in the Gap of Dunloe.[19] The route takes in Stickeen Mountain (440 metres (1,440 ft)) and Cnoc an Bhráca (731 metres (2,398 ft)) before reaching the ridge proper at Cruach Mhór (932 metres (3,058 ft)). From there it continues along the narrow arete of The Big Gun (939 metres (3,081 ft)) to Cnoc na Péiste (988 metres (3,241 ft)), and continuing along the chain of Maolán Buí (923 metres (3,028 ft)), Cnoc an Chuillinn (958 metres (3,143 ft)), Cnoc na Toinne (845 metres (2,772 ft)) to the summit of Carrauntoohil (1,038 metres (3,406 ft)).
From Carrauntoohil, a number of variations are possible, the main one being a detour to
An alternative variation is to continue from Beenkeragh on the northern side of the Coomloughra Horseshoe to the peaks or Skregmore (848 metres (2,782 ft)) and Cnoc Íochtair (747 metres (2,451 ft)) before descending to the Hydro-Track car park.[20][5][2]
Rock and winter climbing
MacGillycuddy's Reeks are not especially known for their rock-climbing routes, unlike
List of peaks
The following is a download from the
Height Rank |
Prominence Rank |
Name | Height (m) |
Prominence (m) |
Height (ft) |
Prominence (ft) |
Topo Map |
OSI Grid Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Carrauntoohil | 1,039 | 1,039 | 3,407 | 3,407 | 78 | V804844 |
2 | 8 | Beenkeragh | 1,008 | 91 | 3,308 | 298 | 78 | V801852 |
3 | 5 | Caher |
1,000 | 100 | 3,281 | 327 | 78 | V793839 |
4 | 2 | Cnoc na Péiste | 988 | 253 | 3,241 | 830 | 78 | V836842 |
5 | 25 | Caher West Top | 973 | 24 | 3,194 | 79 | 78 | V790840 |
6 | 20 | Maolán Buí | 973 | 38 | 3,192 | 125 | 78 | V832838 |
7 | 15 | Cnoc an Chuillinn | 958 | 53 | 3,143 | 174 | 78 | V823833 |
8 | 21 | The Bones | 957 | 37 | 3,138 | 122 | 78 | V801847 |
9 | 12 | The Big Gun | 939 | 74 | 3,081 | 243 | 78 | V840845 |
10 | 22 | Cruach Mhór | 932 | 34 | 3,058 | 112 | 78 | V841848 |
11 | 28 | Cnoc an Chuillinn East Top |
926 | 21 | 3,038 | 69 | 78 | V828834 |
12 | 23 | Knockbrinnea (W) |
854 | 29 | 2,802 | 95 | 78 | V807858 |
13 | 26 | Stumpa Bharr na hAbhann |
852 | 23 | 2,796 | 76 | 78 | V797858 |
14 | 16 | Skregmore |
848 | 50 | 2,781 | 164 | 78 | V792860 |
15 | 27 | Knockbrinnea (E) |
847 | 22 | 2,779 | 72 | 78 | V810857 |
16 | 9 | Cnoc na Toinne | 845 | 80 | 2,772 | 262 | 78 | V811833 |
17 | 19 | Cnoc Íochtair |
746 | 44 | 2,448 | 144 | 78 | V785860 |
18 | 7 | Cnoc an Bhráca |
731 | 96 | 2,398 | 315 | 78 | V858854 |
19 | 14 | Cnoc na dTarbh |
655 | 60 | 2,149 | 197 | 78 | V862850 |
20 | 29 | Hag's Tooth | 650 | 15 | 2,133 | 49 | 78 | V809850 |
21 | 17 | Brassel Mountain | 575 | 50 | 1,886 | 164 | 78 | V830823 |
22 | 10 | Screig Bheag |
573 | 78 | 1,880 | 256 | 78 | V787874 |
23 | 6 | Binn Bhán | 460 | 96 | 1,508 | 315 | 78 | V756828 |
24 | 24 | Binn Dubh | 452 | 27 | 1,483 | 89 | 78 | V749829 |
25 | 11 | Binn Dhearg | 450 | 76 | 1,475 | 249 | 78 | V762820 |
26 | 18 | Struicín | 440 | 45 | 1,444 | 148 | 78 | V866882 |
27 | 13 | Cnoc Breac | 425 | 70 | 1,394 | 230 | 78 | V757868 |
28 | 3 | Knocknabrone Hill |
353 | 188 | 1,158 | 617 | 78 | V801881 |
29 | 4 | Gortnagan | 298 | 122 | 978 | 400 | 78 | V721885 |
See also
- Lists of mountains in Ireland
- List of Irish counties by highest point
- List of mountains of the British Isles by height
- List of P600 mountains in the British Isles
- List of Furth mountains in the British Isles
- List of highest points of European countries
- List of countries by highest point
References
- ^ a b c d e MountainViews: Carrauntoohil
- ^ ISBN 978-1905172337.
- ^ Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
In 2018, 140,000 recreation seekers entered on to the area from the four main access points.
- ^ a b c d e "MacGillycuddy Reeks Mountain Access Development Assessment" (PDF). South Kerry Development Partnership. December 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1852841102.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
- MountainViews Online Database. October 2018.
- ^ "Hill Lists: Furths". Scottish Mountaineering Club.
The list of peaks of 3000ft or more within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland outside (furth) of Scotland. There are currently 34 Furths.
- ^ Database of British and Irish Hills.
- MountainViews Online Database. October 2018.
- ^ a b "Managing visitor impact on The MacGillycuddy's Reeks is still quite a hill to climb". Irish Examiner. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
The attraction of being Ireland's highest mountain range draws a horde of visitors year-round, with 125,000 recreation seekers entering on to the Reeks from the three main access points during 2017.
- MountainViews Online Database.
Cruach - 'stack, rick, pile': Given the original meaning of this word, it is not surprising that most of the mountains with names in cruach show a symmetrical triangular profile, rather like a haystack. This is very evident in the case of na Cruacha Dubha (MacGillycuddy's Reeks) or, to give them their full and rather poetic title, Cruacha Dubha Mhic Giolla Mochuda.
- ^ MountainViews Online Database.
However, he makes no mention here, or elsewhere in the book, of the MacGillycuddys (a branch of O'Sullivan More), the family most intimately connected with the Reeks, as well as the area to the north, and which gave its name to the range (Cruacha Dubha Mhic Giolla Mo Chuda, usually shortened to just Na Cruacha Dubha, 'the black stacks'). The MacGillycuddy was one of the few Gaelic chieftains to have his lands restored after the Cromwellian confiscations, a circumstance which helps to explain why the name has survived to this day. The MacGillycuddy family tomb is at Kilgobnet, between the mountains and Killorglin.
- ^ Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie. pp. 59, 69.
- ^ "The Macgillicuddy Reeks, Killarney County Kerry, Ireland". Library of Congress. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
Title from the Detroit Publishing Co., catalogue J--foreign section. Detroit, Mich. : Detroit Photographic Company, 1905.. Print no. "12000". Forms part of: Views of Ireland in the Photochrom print collection.
- ^ "Photochrom Prints". Library of Congress.
Like postcards, the photochroms feature subjects that appeal to travelers, including landscapes, architecture, street scenes, and daily life and culture. The prints were sold as souvenirs and often collected in albums or framed for display.
- Irish Times.
There are a few candidates for this honour; Dingle's Brandon Ridge, Connemara's Glencoaghan Horseshoe and Mayo's Mweelrea Circuit immediately spring to mind. But nearly all hillwalkers now agree that one route stands out above even such splendour. Kerry's Coomloughra Horseshoe is virtually impossible to match in an Irish context, as it takes in our three highest summits and offers an adrenalin-filled crossing of a memorable mountain ridge, great long-range coastal views and a birds-eye panorama over some of Killarney's renowned lakes and fells.
- ^ "Route Descriptions". Kerry Mountain Rescue Teams. 2018.
- ^ Con Moriarty (2018). "The Ridge of the Reeks". Hidden Ireland Tours.
Simply, the finest mountain traverse in Ireland with 7 summits over 3000 ft. From Kate Kearney's Cottage, in the Gap of Dunloe, to Doire na Féinne and Loch a' Chúis
- ^ "MacGillycuddy's Reeks and Carrauntoohil, Entire Mountain Range Walk". activeme.ie. 2017.
- ISBN 978-0956787422.
- ^ "Howling Ridge". KerryClimbing. 2017.
- ^ "Watch the incredible Howling Ridge climb on Ireland's highest peak". Irish Independent. 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Carrauntoohil Winter Climbs". UKClimbing.com. 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Rock and Winder Guide: Carrauntoohil". KerryClimbing.ie. 2017.
- MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
Further reading
- Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.
- Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.
- Kelly, Piaras (2016). MacGillycuddy's Reeks – Winter Climbs. Piaras Kelly. ISBN 978-1-5262-0666-4.
- O'Sullivan, Valerie (2017). The MacGillycuddy's Reeks: People and Places of Ireland's Highest Mountain Range. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892941.
- Ryan, Jim (2006). Carrauntoohil and MacGillycuddy's Reeks: A Walking Guide to Ireland's Highest Mountains. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1905172337.
- Stewart, Simon (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
External links
- MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website
- Hill Bagging UK & Ireland, the searchable interface for the DoBIH
- Winter Climbing around Carrauntoohil, The Irish Climbing Wiki
- Ordnance Survey Ireland ("OSI") Online Map Viewer
- MacGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain Access Forum, group tasked with developing the range
- Hag's Glen, MacGillycuddy's Reeks, aerial photograph of the central Reeks.