Counshingaum loop

obi604

Hello,

Myself and my 11 year old boy have climbed a good few mountains in last 3 years - Carrauntoohill, Mweelrea, Benbaun, Mount Brandon, Shelffry Hills, Bengorm, Benlettery, Nephin, Galtymore, Croagh Patrick etc. and about 20 more.

thinking of doing Counshingaum loop in Waterford. I believe there are a few hairy parts, but is it doable based on our experience.

Ken Tucky

Fair play to your 11 year old.

It's a fantastic climb. Only one bit was a little hairy, after the crags when you go up onto the top of the mountain. It's a little scramble, nothing more. Just take care.

Take the route clockwise. Hard climb out of the forest and up to the craggy parts. I loved that part.

I just went up Mahon Falls last week and couldn't believe the difference looking over at Counshingaun. The lake side is the only danger.

Enjoy it...it's a great hike

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667727#Comment_123667727

Thanks, yeah he absolutely loves it, he spends hours researching on YouTube etc before climbing.

We could have climbed a lot more if I had more time, but still we get to do a good few.

Actually, Last October, we did Mahon Falls to Kilclooney and and went all the way over to view Counshingaum lough, Mahon falls was tricky in places.

Noted on the clockwise direction, twas couinshingaum lough that first got us into hiking, I saw the picture of it somewhere and and I was like where is that, we did up as far as the lake in 2020 on our very first mini hike and got us hooked

Ken Tucky

I wish my 15 year old would be more like your fella.

Yeah Mahon Falls was as straight up as you can go.

I'll be honest, if it had of been a false summit( looking up you think it's the top but when ya get there 😢) I may have stopped as we couldn't see a thing.

Funny enough up to the lake if fairly hard going in Coumshingaun. When heading it to the crags there is kind of zig zag paths that help.

But it's class up there. One of the best.

We did Galtymore last week too and on both we couldn't see a thing.

Hope you have better luck

SuperBowserWorld

Fair play getting the young lad into that. Hope it gives him a lifetime of joy and health.

We went there a few years ago and it's really beautiful. Check for ticks afterwards - we had a few to deal with. And have something to remove them.

obi604

Did Coumshingaun loop earlier today. Arrived at car park at 8am. Only 3 other cars there at the time. Did the standard clockwise route. Took us 1 hour and 40 to get up to the top of the left side if you know what I mean. Tricky enough in spots and the 11 year old choose alternate routes sometimes to stay away from the edge especially at the last push to the top. Enjoyable but he was a bit nervous, but we have done worse 🤪🤣

he said if he done it again he would be fine. .
One thing though - the flys or midges on that hard push to the top were ridiculous. Literally had swarms around our faces. Keeping them away was almost harder than the climb, never experienced flys that bad before!

Different story when we got back to the car park, full and people parking up the road. Lovely to get home from a hike at about 1pm versus 9pm sometimes.