Border Hiking Routes
The Beara Peninsula is unique in that it consists of the longest contentious and unbroken spine of rugged hills that run 160 kilometres from Macroom in the upper Lee Valley to Dursey Sound at the end of the Peninsula. Here we will set out on a Border Hike. On the Cork and Kerry border, two rival county’s when it comes to Gaelic football. The most rivalry is close to the border the only good omen is they are separated by the Caha Mountain ridge. Here we will set out to walk on the border line, starting in the west where Lauragh “Kerry” and Argroom “Cork” meet. From here in six stages in good visibility weather, Finishing in at Saint Finbarrs Oratory in Gougane Barra.
Stage One starting at Coolownig up onto Tooth mountain (590 meters above sea level) Here we get a view into “The Pocket” following the border taking Coomaclloghane ( 590 m) Eskatarriff (531 m) down into Clogher valley and up hill to the east side of Knocknagree to Glas Loughs where stage one finish . Taking a track road down to Rossmackowen.
Stage Two starting at Rossmackowen back up the track to Glas Loughs to join the border again this will take us up onto Hungry Hill (682 m). Descending north east onto Derryclancy (554 m) onto Coombane (510 m) finishing at Healy Pass.
Stage Three starting again at the Healy Pass east to Knockowen (658 M) and looking down into Glanrastel valley going onto Knockeirky ( 577 m) and Ram’s Hill ( 533 m) here we can come off the border ridge and head down to the car park near Barley Lake or carry on north where views of Baurearagh valley now on a tight ridge of Killane Mountain ( 537 m) onward to Baurearagh Mountain ( 489 m) descending to the tunnel road Glengarriff to Kenmare.
Stage Four starting again at the tunnel up onto spot height (420 m) here we join a loop walk markers that joins the main Beara Way walk from Glengarriff to Kenmare on the Esk Mountain. Crossing the Beara Way track up onto Barraboy Mountain ( 460 m) The border from here goes between small lakes and spot heights (409 m) to (456 m) to ( 519 m) finishing at the Priest’s Leap.
Stage Five starting at Priest’s Leap east up hill in zig zag between two small lakes, Lough Reagh and Boy on a ridge to Knockboy ( 706 m) Cork’s highest point shared with Kerry. Onto the other Knockboy ( 692 m) now over the steep ground of Caoinkeen going east to Kinkeen down to Comhola Valley where track road from Coomola to Kilgarven. Follow this track road down to a pick up point.
Stage Six start in Coomhola valley where we were picked up on route five. Hiking back up the track road to the boarder from here east the border takes us to spot heights ( 406 m) to (503 m) 200 meter’s north of this spot height is the source stream to the River Lee we handrail along down with the stream into the Gougane Barra forest park to end our Pilgrimage at Saint Finbarrs Oratory.
