Comeragh Map Update

Comshinaun (Coumshingaun) in the Comeraghs has become a hot spot to visit in the last half dozen years, largely due to exposure on social media and in lifestyle books. It’s one of the finest glacial lakes on the island and a special place but this has resulted in the creation of multiple paths in places and a pretty well worn and in places eroded route around the ‘loop walk’. Shown here is an update of these paths leading up to Loch Comshinaun. If you have our Comeragh 1:25K map, take note of them.

Some notes: 1) on leaving Kilclooney Woods car park, the route passes a mast and exits the wood at a stile. The ‘old route’ from here turns left up the edge of the wood (currently clear felled, marked 4) with a more used path going straight on. The gorse/ furze bushes here have resulted in several paths but these rejoin higher up and head towards the lake. Loch Comshinaun itself is a fine place to visit, further on due to the rocky nature of the ground there are now several paths leading to the lake.

2) For those intending to make a hillwalking circuit, the best route lies left up the southern spur. Key here is to pass a large isolated rock on the spur called Muirisín Ryan’s Rock and then climb to the obvious top crowned with a rocky outcrop.

3) the navigationally incompetent or ill-informed tend to head on towards the lake, then spot a large eroded path coming from the north spur and head for that. This ascends a stony and bouldery path to Stailcín Garbh – the rough peak. Which is fine and easy progress is then made around the com, until descent is required down a steep rocky arete. At this point some will take their courage in their hands, others will turn back and reverse their route, others try some other way, mountain rescue team can be called out and so on. Which is why this route is better tackled as per 2) above.

It should also be said that that this circuit is a proper hill walk and needs to be treated with respect. Of the 30-40 people I saw on it recently, only 2 or 3 looked properly equipped to me if things went bad. It’s no place for those clad solely in shorts and tee-shirts, never mind those in runners.

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