Kate Kearney’s Cottage
A family-run pub and restaurant at the entrance to the Gap of Dunloe, serving food and drinks. Check Instagram for current opening and food-service times.
Gap of Dunloe, Beaufort, Killarney, Co. Kerry, V93 AWR8ModerateSummit · Reeks
Cnoc na dTarbh
from the Gap of Dunloe.
A short, steep climb from the Gap of Dunloe over rock and rough mountain ground to the 652 m top of Cnoc na dTarbh.
Also known as The Bull Mountain.
DISTANCE
4.66km
ASCENT
358m
HIGH POINT
652m
My time 3 hr 37 · steep, rocky mountain ground GRADE GUIDE ↗
Reading the map…
INTERACTIVE TERRAIN · ACTUAL GPX TRACKACTUAL GPX TRACK
A recorded time is not a planning estimate. Build your own from pace, ascent, ground, weather and daylight.
01 · DECIDE
Is this your day?
ELEVATION PROFILE
A steep climb to 652 m.
The route gains 358 m over rough ground before returning to the Gap of Dunloe.
Reading the forecast
358 m ascent · 376 m descent
THE LINE
A compact mountain with serious ground.
The route starts in the Gap of Dunloe and quickly leaves the low ground behind. A steep, rocky line climbs towards Cnoc na dTarbh, with the mountains opening out on either side. At 4.66 km it looks short on paper, but the ground is rough, and my time shows it isn’t a quick or easy walk.
Cnoc na dTarbh means the hill of the bulls. The name belongs here to the mountain on the western side of the Gap, opposite the Purple Mountain ground. From the top you get a close view of both sides of the pass.
- 01Gap of DunloeThe recorded circuit begins at approximately 241 m beside the Gap.
- 02Rocky lower slopesThe line climbs away from the road over broken rock and rough grass.
- 03Cnoc na dTarbhThe route reaches its recorded high point at 652 m.
- 04Return to the GapA rough descent closes the circuit near its starting point.
The English reading of Cnoc na dTarbh, hill of the bulls, follows the Irish words. The location described here is the mountain west of the Gap of Dunloe.
Forecast for around 650 m
Reading the forecast…
NOW
WIND
TODAY’S PEAK RAIN CHANCE
Reading the forecast…
–cloud
–humidity
–km/h peak gust
Strongest wind today–
Peak gust–
RECENT RAINFALL · LIKELY GROUND
NEXT SIX HOURS · swipe
Reading the forecast
Forecast. This is a modelled estimate for this route’s high ground; conditions can differ sharply across the mountain. Derived from Open-Meteo forecast data ↗.
HAZARDS & OPTIONSKnow the commitment.
Steep, rough and rocky mountain ground despite the route’s short distance.
There is no guarantee of a continuous path or waymarking on the upper slopes.
Wet rock and grass can become very slippery after rain.
Cloud can obscure the summit, the return line and the surrounding steep ground.
The narrow Gap of Dunloe road carries walkers, cyclists, local traffic and jarveys. Take care at the start and finish.
The safest retreat before the high point is back down the known ascent line. Do not descend into an unfamiliar gully or towards unseen ground. Turn around early if cloud, wind or wet rock makes the climb uncomfortable.
ABOVE THE GAP OF DUNLOE
My photographs.
03 · GO
Getting there.
Start well.
STARTGap of Dunloe
Select coordinates to copy
The route starts and finishes in the Gap of Dunloe. Parking and traffic can be difficult in the Gap, so confirm a suitable legal place to leave a vehicle without blocking the narrow road, homes, farms or emergency access. Respect all signs, livestock and private property.
ROUTE FILE
Take the route with you.
The original GPX, exactly as walked. Load it into your watch, phone or offline mapping before you leave signal.
Distance, time, track and heights come from my own GPX and GeoJSON.
Download original GPXcnoc-na-dtarbh.gpx · as recorded
Confirm the download when your browser asks, then open the file from your browser’s downloads and your mapping app will offer to take it. HiiKER and Garmin Explore both do; the route loads on HiiKER’s free tier, though its EastWest mapping of the Irish uplands is a paid layer. Onto a watch: import the GPX into Garmin Connect, Komoot or Strava and send it to the device from there.
Short distance. Real mountain ground.
Judge this route by its terrain, not its kilometres.
Cnoc na dTarbh is a short mountain circuit with steep rock, rough slopes and limited waymarking. Sound navigation and an early turn-around decision matter.
Before you leave
- Check the forecast and warnings
- Plan your daylight
- Save the GPX or an offline map
- Pack footwear and layers
- Share your route and return time
- 01Check the mountain forecastReview cloud base, wind, rainfall and warnings before entering the Gap.
- 02Navigate independentlyCarry suitable mapping and know how to use it away from a clear path.
- 03Protect your marginTurn back early if wet rock, cloud or wind exceeds your experience.
Leave a plan.
Tell someone your route and return time. For emergencies in Ireland call 112 or 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue.
More routes nearby
All 33 routes →AFTER THE WALK
Post-hike picks.
A small, personal shortlist around Gap of Dunloe and Beaufort.