Cronin’s Yard, at the entrance to Hag’s Glen, is the traditional start point for those taking on Carrauntoohil - Ireland’s highest mountain. The Cronin’s Yard Loop however is a much easier trail, taking 2.3 hours to complete.
Unfolding over open terrain, sandy paths, footbridges, stiles and riverbank stretches, the trail is moderate and relatively flat underfoot.
Stretching through some of the most charming and remote parts of the Reeks, the loop remains accessibly horizontal - rising 200m in total - despite the surrounding mountain landscape.
Enjoy fantastic perspectives on Hag’s Glen, Devil’s Ladder and Lough Callee, as well as the north-eastern face of mighty Carrauntoohil and its vertiginous Primroses Ridge.
Once you’ve looped back, reward yourself with a coffee in the tea rooms at Cronin’s Yard. Or venture to nearby Beaufort for more dining, pub and café options.
- During World War II, tragedy struck a US Army Air Force plane when it crashed into the mountain above Cummeenapeasta Lake. Cronin’s Yard is home to the memorials of this tragic 1943 disaster, due to its proximity to the lake.