“The Matterhorn of Ireland”
Almost in the centre of the spine of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Carrauntoohil stands proud as the highest mountain in Ireland at a height of 1.039 m/3.123 ft, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in County Kerry in the South-West of Ireland.
The climb up and back from Carrauntoohil, offers some of the best views to be found anywhere in Ireland. While the walk is demanding, it is achievable once you have a reasonably good level of fitness and the invigorating thrill of reaching the summit will sooth away any ill effects that the climb may have caused you.
Prices / Dates
Price: €325 per person sharing
Single Supplement: +€100
Tour Dates:
Contact Footfalls for 2024 dates
Tour Grade: Difficult
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Group Option:
For a group of 6 or over, dates can be arranged subject to availability. For further information please contact us.
Included / Excluded
- 2 nights bed & breakfast accommodation
- Guided walk
- All transport is included: Pickup and return from Dublin Airport or elsewhere on route to Kerry, to and from walks.
- Packed Lunches
- Evening Meals
Our route sees us leaving the east coast at 12.00 noon for Killarney. The journey takes us west across the country in the direction of Limerick, then south-west to Killarney. Driving time will be approximately 4 hours 30 minutes. Once we have checked into our accommodation in Killarney, we will take a short walk around the town.
Killarney (Cill Airne in Gaelic) which means the Church of the Sloes. Sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush, used mainly nowadays for the making of sloe gin or wine. The town is over 250 years in existence as a travel destination and in that time has gained a wealth of experience in looking after its guests.
From Killarney, our drive takes us in a loop around the MacGillycuddy Reeks passing the Gap of Dunloe to reach Lough Acoose. Our walk starts following The Hydro Road past Lough Eighter in the Coomloughta Glen to join the spur of Caher and onto Caher Mountain (1001 m/3000 ft). The view from here on a clear day is simply beautiful. The final section of our walk, to reach the summit of Carrauntoohill, takes us along the Caher Ridge which once again offers superb views in all directions.
After a small celebration for reaching the summit of Ireland’s highest mountain, we will start our descent back along the Caher Ridge to Caher. Here we will join a spur that leads us to Curragh More Mountain (822 m/2470 ft) and down to join the Kerry Way and back to our bus at Lough Acoose.
Distance: 17km/10.6 miles, Ascent: 875 m/2625 ft
After a hearty Irish breakfast, we will depart from our accommodation and take a short drive to Muckross House & Gardens. Muckross House is situated close to the shores of Muckross Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of Killarney National Park. There are many interesting things to do here, like visiting the magnificent Muckross House, amble around the gardens or take a stroll down memory lane to visit a Traditional Working Farm. We will depart for home at 15.00 hrs.
