Colmcille Climbers

Up The Kingdom

We drove to Kerry on Wednesday, stopping for a couple of hours of mountain bike trail riding at Ballyhoura in Tipperary.  This is a purpose built facility, designed like the links of a chain, ie you can do 40 minutes on one link, 2 hours on two, up to over 40k (if you are fit or your arse is hard enough),  Two hours was good, and the trail was challenging, but mostly not too technical. Mind you a rider was killed on it a couple of weeks ago.

The next morning (sunny) was spent on my second last 600m peak, An Carran, just above Priest's Leap road between Kenmare and Bantry, and the afternoon on Cnoc na Cappul at Moll's Gap, overnighting at the very fine campsite at Caherdaniel.  We met Keith and Sandra for a bike ride around Muckross in the morning(Keith ran around it as he got a flat tyre) and in the afternoon we all got soaked on Crohane above L.Guitane.  Overnight in Cronins Yard.

Met up with Gerry O'Sullivan, Sonya and Eoin in the morning, and while Keith and Sandra did the entire Reeks ridge, we did Howling Ridge.  It was much better than I remembered, despite our being in the mist for most of it.  At least Gerry and I got to the top before it turned wet.  Eoin and Sonya were not so lucky!  Keith and Sandra staggered in soaked after a 9 hour day of navigation and drizzle.

Keith and Sandra left on Sunday morning, as the weather looked foul, but by the time we had got to Dingle, it had dried up.  The others were at 'Play at Height' indoor wall in Dingle during the morning, and we reassembled at Doonsheen at lunchtime, a crag I have wanted to climb on for some time.  It was great, the climbing excellent, with some outstanding routes.  A couple of outstanding HS4bs, particularly one up an exposed arete.  Hae tae gae beck (Ulster Scots).

Overnight at Inch, and home on Monday.