Priests Leap from Kenmare Direction

dragratchet

Im in Kenmare till Friday morning and hoping to grab a couple hours out on the bike tomorrow to head up priests leap. How is the climb from the Kenmare side and can anyone recommend a loop to bring me back to Kenmare without going back the road i went out. Time is tight enough. any suggestions?

ckeego

Not too sure about the climb from Kenmare side, but it is torture from the Bantry side..

If you do loop from Kenmare, over the top and descend straight down into Coomhola bridge and then onto the main road up through Glengariff and over the Caha Pass into Kenmare again.

dragratchet

Thanks, that looks like a goer.. couple decent climbs over about 60-70km loop. looking at strava, priests leap from kenmare direction aint the worst. 9% over 3.4km, get the blood pumping alright

Wishbone Ash

ckeego wrote: »

Not too sure about the climb from Kenmare side, but it is torture from the Bantry side...

+1 Probably the toughest climb I've ever done. The urge to stop was overwhelming.

OP - disregard the average gradient - it's well above 20% in places, very narrow, grass in centre, sheep dung, gravel etc. Traction for the rear wheel can be a problem.

ford2600

TBH if in Kenmare, a loop on southern side of river to Kilgarvan, climb Borlin and back via Glengarriff and Caha Pass would be a much nicer ride. Nice in either direction. If feeling energetic come back via Healy's Pass instead for a much longer ride

Priest's Leap is a bucket list climb but not enjoyable up or down really.

cormacjones

Which side (Kenmare or Bantry) would posters recommend to start from?

detones

Agree with ford. Much nicer routes to do if your stuck for time. Priest's Leap is nasty. A favourite of mine is a nice 60k loop of kenmare sneem Molls Gap return.

Beasty

Keep reading the thread title and thinking it's a Father Ted episode ....:)

detones

Agree with ford. Much nicer routes to do if your stuck for time. Priest's Leap is nasty. A favourite of mine is a nice 60k loop of kenmare sneem Molls Gap return.

Wishbone Ash

cormacjones wrote: »

Which side (Kenmare or Bantry) would posters recommend to start from?

On the Cork side, Glengarriff would be the nearest town, not Bantry.

Wishbone Ash

ford2600 wrote: »

...Priest's Leap is a bucket list climb...

Yes, one of those challenges that most have no intention of ever repeating.

2 Wheels Good

I've done it twice from the Cork side. Once as loop from Glengarriff back towards Bantry, then up and over the leap and back by the Caha pass so much the same as what you'd be doing. It's a nice 42km loop.
Its about 58km starting from Kenmare depending on which road you take to the Priests leap.
Can't comment too much on climbing from the Kerry side as I've only gone down it, but from memory it's a steadier climb than the Cork side.

crosstownk

I've only done it from the Cork (Glengarriff) side. Pure torture and as stated above it's just a bucket list climb from my point of view. I descended down the Kenmare side and it was hairy. It's that steep that I was on the brakes all the time. I got a puncture shortly into the descent that had blown on the rim side - maybe from over heating from brake application.

I do remember the sheer silence around me as I changed the tube - it was that serene that I stayed a while longer and patched the punctured tube before setting off for Kenmare.

Consey

Did it last year over from Kenmare and back across from the Cork side. Kenmare side has one sustained incline near the top that was just pure slogging for a couple of k, on the way back from Bantry side, near the top it was more like hill intervals, madly steep ramps, followed by less steep bits. Though there was a sustained steep bit at the start from the Cork side too.

It's actually nearly as close to Bantry as Glengarriff as its the direct route to Kenmare to Bantry as the crow flies, though definitely the toughest for a car or a bike.

Great one to do alright, though not sure I'd be attempting it at the end of October !!!!!

crosstownk wrote: »

I've only done it from the Cork (Glengarriff) side. Pure torture and as stated above it's just a bucket list climb from my point of view. I descended down the Kenmare side and it was hairy. It's that steep that I was on the brakes all the time. I got a puncture shortly into the descent that had blown on the rim side - maybe from over heating from brake application.

I do remember the sheer silence around me as I changed the tube - it was that serene that I stayed a while longer and patched the punctured tube before setting off for Kenmare.

dragratchet

Thanks for the responses folks.. i spose ill let the weather dictate my route tomorrow. if its nice ill tackle the p-leap, if not perhaps something a little less taxing. im pushing it as is heading off on the bike tomorrow. to have to call in a rescue mission might be the final straw.

smacl

detones wrote: »

Agree with ford. Much nicer routes to do if your stuck for time. Priest's Leap is nasty. A favourite of mine is a nice 60k loop of kenmare sneem Molls Gap return.

A lot of nice options on that theme. For me, I'd probably turn off at Blackwater bridge or Tahilla prior to Sneem, then take this road and the steeper ascent up Molls gap here. Poor enough road surfaces, but probably one of my favourite cycling roads in the whole country, and IMHO much nicer than the Sneem - Molls Gap road.

dragratchet

was really pushed for time after a hike earlier in the day so i headed out towards sneem. getting dark so just did kenmare to sneem and back. wet and windy. sorry to have not at least spun up molls gap but whole-heartedly glad to have given priests leap a skip today.