"For someone seeking a relatively short walk in the Killarney area, offering a good viewing point, Torc Mountain provides the answer."
The above quote is from "Southwest of Ireland" by Seán O'Suilleabháin. It is the normal route.
Maurice and I had an exploring hike on Torc which was as far from the above description as the sun is from the moon!
Early November, a text from an enthusiastic Mossie, what day am I off. I answer back - Tuesday - exploring hike on Torc. He re-texts: "What kind of exploring?!" Giving details would spoil the fun, so we met at Torc Waterfall 10am on a mild November morning.
Mossie has not hiked much with us for a while so this is a kind of "baptism of fire".
Now, on with the route. Started hike further up the road at Gortracussane about 10am. Almost immediately into high grass terrain - elephant or deer grass - never know its proper name but it grows profusely on our routes, so the deer, goats and sheep must not like it either. Up along a few bumps, traversing, ascending, descending to avoid little gorges of rhododendrons which thrive here. Up past little rocky outcrops.
Great views of the north face of Torc, despite its heavy veil of vegetation. To the right, stony ridges and the impressive "Devil's Bit" gap at the top of a steep vegetated gully. Routes for another day.
Our eyes drawn to a rock bench running horizontal across the slope. To get to it, we chance upon a path which incredibly brings us up comfortably up through seemingly impenetrable rhodos.
Alas this does not last, as the track then winds left in a traverse. We want to go up the "Torc Direct". An upward struggle in deep waist high heather - pretending not to hear Mossie's mumbles.
Up to the base of the rock bench, which is more formidable close up. Ah well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I went up a short steep grassy step, nothing to hold further up, so had to retreat, and we both slid down carefully. Traversed under the rockband, eventually coming to a section where the rock was not so vertical, a short rockstep up to a very convenient rhodo branch which enabled us to get up.
Now the real fun started. A jungle of heather, which often hid holds, sometimes the heather was handy to grasp and haul up, but I could hear mutters and gasps behind me.
Eventually we got onto more open ground and found a lofty perch on a rock, basking in the mild November weather, a quick snack to re-energise. More grassy terrain, a bump and onto Torc where we met 2 sensible people who had come the normal route.
But we don't do ordinary. Headed off across the summit ridge - more grass, bog, holes, heather. We got separated at one stage. I encountered a herd of goats who were not impressed by the disturbance.
Maurice's arrival was heralded by some deer scampering downhill. Onwards and downwards through the edge of the wood, onto the old Kenmare Road and off down the track.
I'm often blamed for a tough or long hike, but this time Mossie was the culprit. As we descended, I reminded him my car was at Torc Waterfall, so we could descend that way or do the high level direct route. Brave Maurice opted for the high route so off we went.
Our eyesight is not too good and we can't read well so we ignored and did not understand the notice which says: "Red Trail Closed". So off we went, uphill, downhill, traversing on the trail which brings you across the face of Torc.
Poor Maurice regretted he did not keep "the béal dúnta". Trail quite overgrown but impressive. Rocky paths across streams, a little spring well, tunnels of rhodos, an old Victorian ruin.
Eventually onto more open ground and I saw Dinis Cottage far below. I told Maurice we did not have far to go but they were famous last words.
We got to a fork on the trail and Maurice opted to go right. Big mistake. Shortly we were floundering in jungle vegetation and tried to traverse to regain the path. Deep and high heather, gorse, grass, rhodos and holes to keep us muttering.
Eventually we hauled ourselves gratefully onto the original path which we had ascended that morning. Still a long descent on an overgrown path meandering down through forest, streams and rhodos to gain the road even more gratefully. A short 10 min. walk on the main road back to the car was the least of our worries.
An interesting "handy" route as we explored Torc Mountain. Maurice certainly made his return debut in style - trudging on this exploring hike manfully and opting for the direct route.
He certainly regrets not keeping "the béal dúnta", but it did him the power of good and is all psyched up for the next walk.
We go where even goats and deer are scarce, finding new terrain all the time, interesting views, handy branches, awkward rock benches, hidden holes and glorious vegetation which after a wet Irish summer is in a healthy state.
