Carrauntoohil (pronounced /ˌkærənˈtuːl/; Irish: Corrán Tuathail, meaning Tuathal's sickle), also spelt Carrantuohill and in various other ways, is a mountain located in County Kerry, Ireland, and is the highest peak in Ireland. It is 1,038 m[1] (3,406 feet) tall and is the central peak of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks range. There are two other peaks in this range above 1,000 m (Beenkeragh, 1,010 m; and Caher, 1,001 m) and four others on the island over 3,000 feet, in the Dingle Peninsula (Mount Brandon), south Tipperary (Galtymore) and County Wicklow (Lugnaquilla). A large metal cross 5 metres (16 ft) tall tops the peak.
The name "Carrauntoohil" derives from the Irish language Corrán Tuathail, meaning "Tuathal's sickle".[2]
The mountain is most often climbed from the north-east, along the Hag's Glen and up the steep Devil's Ladder to the col between Carrauntoohil and Cnoc na Péiste, and then north-west to the summit. The route has become more dangerous in recent years due to loose stones and crowding.[3] No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain, but caution is advised. Alternatively, one can walk the two other 1,000 m peaks in a horseshoe trip, starting from the west. The traverse from highest point to the second highest involves a light scramble. The weather conditions on the mountain are very changeable, and there have been a number of deaths due to many inappropriately dressed tourists attempting the peak each summer.
References
External links
See also
|
