Go Walk:Near Moll's Gap is The Buachaills ridge, parallel to the Magillicuddy Reeks – and you get a great view from there says Tony O'Doherty
MUCH AS I love the Magillicuddy Reeks, there are times when the effort seems too much, or the cloud is down, or there is a danger of tripping over people which is increasingly the case these days.
If any or all of the foregone apply, I head for Moll’s Gap near which there is an unfrequented ridge which parallels the Reeks and allows me to enjoy them vicariously and without undue effort.
Only one summit is named on the ridge, Boughil (631m) or Buachaill Finnleithid (The fair wide boy?), which is not the highest point.
The ridge is generally referred to as The Buachaills.
A fence runs along the north shore of Lake Barfinny which, if you leave it on your left, provides a useful guide for the haul to the summit.
The ground is steep and wet in places and interspersed with rock outcrops but it is easy to find a route through them.
After the short but strenuous effort it is a pleasure to burst out on to the flat summit with its great vista overlooking Kenmare Bay, the Beara Peninsula and the Lakes of Killarney.
To the north, the southern slopes of the Reeks fill the horizon and while these have not been gouged by coom glaciers to the same extent as the north-facing slopes, the stark outlines of the arêtes bring back memories of adventures and scary moments as I walk along the more straightforward surface of this attractive ridge.
From the summit it is an easy walk down to the first col. Cross the fence here and follow the broad grass ramp that helps you avoid the rougher ground and leads to spot height 639m.
Below in the Owenreagh Valley the small patchworks of green fields and their shelterbelts of conifers provide a sharp contrast to the frost burnt slopes of the Reeks.
There is a steep drop down to the next col and it is only when you look back that you realize what an impressive mountain you have been on as its great cliffs tower above you.
The next stretch is hard on the legs as there is a lot of rock which requires a bit of easy scrambling from time to time. From Spot Height 595m there is an easy walk on heathery ground across to Spot Height 569m which is marked by a small upright rock.
This is the end of the ridge although purists will argue that the next peak of Knocklomena is part of it as well.
As including Knocklomena involves a drop down to the valley floor and a much longer road walk at the end, it is easy to convince yourself that this is not the case.
It is worth walking to the west for a few hundred metres to look down on to Lough Fada and the cliffs which flank it.
Return to the Spot Height and head south down a slope of broad rocky ledges and across boggy ground towards a green roofed barn beside the large forest plantation on your left.
Take care crossing the fences as the posts are old. You will come out onto the track which leads down to the road from where it is a five km walk back to the cars.
Halfway along the road, there is a charming cafe that serves a variety of pancakes and good coffee and if you have a kind and caring driver he will say “Ye might as well stay here lads and I’ll go on and bring the car back”.
If you have a driver like that treasure him or her; we hadn’t on the day.
And as it was a brand new car, no volunteer was trusted with the keys.
Buachaill Ridge, Co Kerry
Start and finishThe car park at the northeast corner of Lough Barfinnihy on the R568 a kilometre west of Molls Gap on the road to Sneem
How to get thereMoll's Gap is midway on the N71, Killarney to Kenmare Road.
TimeFive hours.
Distance12km.
Total ascent600m.
SuitabilityRoute is moderate. Compass, map, rain gear are essential.
MapOrdnance Survey. Discovery Series. Sheet 78.
Food and accommodationKillarney, Kenmare, Sneem