Priest's Leap - condition of road

High Nellie

Has anyone ridden Priest's Leap recently - what's the condition of the road?

ROK ON

High Nellie wrote: »

Has anyone ridden Priest's Leap recently - what's the condition of the road?

Cantalach was up there Sun. PM him. I was up there start of April. No worse than usual. Think country boreen with bits of gravel and sheep ****.

GlennaMaddy

I was up there two weeks ago, not many potholes but lots of gravel on the Kerry side. I descended to Cork side and the surface was pretty good.

on_the_nickel

Bump - hoping to do this at the weekend, weather permitting. A few questions if anyone could help update on the above?

1. What's best way to climb it - from the Cork or Kerry side? Thinking mostly about the descent, my speed on the way up will mean the surface will have little effect!

2. How do you get to it? I know there's a signpost on the way up the Caha from Kenmare, is that the best way?

Any info appreciated.

on_the_nickel

Bump for the late crew, anyone been up it recently?

youtheman

I know the Tour de Munster crowd were up there this weekend (on what they call 'The Viscous Cycle'). All I know is that there was one accident (inexperienced cyclist that should not have been up such a hill). Besides that I didn't hear of any other comment on the conditions.

ROK ON

A friend of mine was it last Sunday I'll ask her.

Neither side has much o an advantage.
From Cork side head from Glengariff to Comhola and take the turn off for Borlin valley (signposted Kilgarvan). About 1 k up the road there is a bridge on your right. Go straight for the Leap and take the bridge for the Borlin.

After you stay going straight you start climbing pretty quickly. The 2nd to 3rd km are hell. Hits 30%. The final km is also tough. Middle three are fine.

From Kerry head from Kenmare to Bonane and take the left at the signpost. It's signposted all the way. There is a lumpy drag the road takes a sharp right. There is a ramp followed by 2km at 15% then it levels out, then descends the ramps back up to the top.

Both descents are dangerous. Check the top speeds out on Strava - lots of guys descending at 20-30kmph. You will need new brake blocks after you are finished.

It's an ugly beast of a climb.

If you want beauty do the Borlin or Caha.
If you like torture, from Glengariff take a left into the forest. There is a 2km forested climb at 13% that comes out close to the top of the Caha pass. Very very hard but it is nice.

Swamp3

Went up from the Bonane side 3 weeks ago. Some work had been done resurfacing the road....some work!
Lots of loose chippings and sticky tar.
Estimated time of finishing of the works? Sometime in 2015.

on_the_nickel

ROK ON wrote: »

A friend of mine was it last Sunday I'll ask her.

Neither side has much o an advantage.
From Cork side head from Glengariff to Comhola and take the turn off for Borlin valley (signposted Kilgarvan). About 1 k up the road there is a bridge on your right. Go straight for the Leap and take the bridge for the Borlin.

After you stay going straight you start climbing pretty quickly. The 2nd to 3rd km are hell. Hits 30%. The final km is also tough. Middle three are fine.

From Kerry head from Kenmare to Bonane and take the left at the signpost. It's signposted all the way. There is a lumpy drag the road takes a sharp right. There is a ramp followed by 2km at 15% then it levels out, then descends the ramps back up to the top.

Both descents are dangerous. Check the top speeds out on Strava - lots of guys descending at 20-30kmph. You will need new brake blocks after you are finished.

It's an ugly beast of a climb.

If you want beauty do the Borlin or Caha.
If you like torture, from Glengariff take a left into the forest. There is a 2km forested climb at 13% that comes out close to the top of the Caha pass. Very very hard but it is nice.

Perfect, that's exactly what I was looking for. I know that turn off on the Kerry side, wasn't sure if that was the start of the climb from that side.

One last question for you. Priest's has been on the bucket list for a while, but I hate sh!tty brakeblock-busting descents, especially after a really tough climb - back tends to scream at me. So would you say just go for it, or recommend Borlin or another climb as a similarly testing climb with a bit more to see and a nicer descent?

Intend to do a Glengariff - Kenmare loop, to include Healy's Pass, haven't decided on what direction or route back over yet.

Thanks again.

Ole Rodrigo

August 2012, the last bit before the descent into the Borlin Valley. Such a nice place.

Of course, was only stopping to take a pic

at1withmyself

Attempted this a few weeks ago and stopped about 1 km from the top as I just couldn't do it, had a decent cycle under the legs already but still disappointed with myself.

One thing from the Kerry side follow the signs and not the garmin as it takes you off the road, not sure if it was just mine but I followed the signs and was surprised were I met back up with the Garmin route at a field gate!!!

Tough climb and looking forward to the return trip for revenge (I hope!!)