● RECORDED ROUTE

Mt Brandon
West Loop.

A long recorded circuit from Mount Brandon’s western side, climbing to the high ridge before looping back across wild Dingle mountain ground.

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Based on Rob’s GPX
1,010 recorded track points · western Mount Brandon start and finish

ROB’S PHOTOGRAPHSSee 8 route photos↓

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INTERACTIVE TERRAIN · ACTUAL GPX TRACK

DISTANCE15.73km recorded

RECORDED TIME5:23hours

ASCENT992m recorded

GRADEHardexperienced hikers

Recorded time is not planning time. Build your own estimate from pace, ascent, ground, breaks, weather and available daylight.

WEATHER AT A GLANCE

900 m mountain forecast

Reading the route forecast…

Current snapshot. Detailed planning guidance and route files are below. Mountain conditions can differ sharply from the forecast.

PLAN THE GROUND

Start well. Turn back early.

Recorded-track information for planning. This is not confirmation of parking, access or safe passage on the day.

RECORDED START

Recorded western start point

From the supplied track

Irish Transverse Mercator

Tap coordinates to copy

This coordinate is the beginning of the supplied recording, not a guarantee of formal parking. Confirm access on the day and avoid obstructing local residents, farm traffic or emergency vehicles.

Use appropriate parking and never block gates, homes, narrow roads or emergency access.

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HAZARDS & OPTIONS

Know the commitment.

A long mountain circuit with almost 1,000 metres of recorded ascent.
Exposed high ground where Atlantic wind, cloud and rain can arrive quickly.
Navigation can become demanding when the ridge and descent are obscured.
Wet, rough or boggy ground can slow the western return considerably.

Conservative retreat guidance

The recorded loop is not a bad-weather escape plan. Before reaching the exposed high ground, an early retreat along the known outward line is the conservative option. Later decisions require confident navigation and current ground knowledge.

No line shown here should be treated as a guaranteed emergency escape route.

RECORDED ELEVATION

From the west to 941 m.

The GeoJSON provides elevation and cumulative distance at every recorded point, so this profile follows the actual activity rather than an estimate.

941 m50 m

0 km992 m ascent · 995 m descent15.73 km

FROM THE MOUNTAIN

Brandon to the Atlantic.

Rob’s photographs from the western circuit: high corries, summit markers and the Dingle coastline opening below the mountain.

Deep rocky corrie below Mount Brandon with the Dingle coast beyond — 01Above the Brandon corrie

Upright stone marker on Mount Brandon with the high ridge behind — 02A marker on the mountain

Dark summit cross overlooking the ridges and mountains of the Dingle Peninsula — 03High above the peninsula

Rocky corrie descending towards a broad Atlantic bay — 04The Atlantic below

Walkers gathered on the sunlit summit area of Mount Brandon — 05On the summit

View along the headlands and fields of the western Dingle coastline — 06West along the coast

Layered mountain rock rising sharply above the blue Atlantic — 07Rock above open water

Two sheep on a high slope overlooking the cliffs of the Dingle coast — 08Company on the descent

Photography by @kerrymountains.rob ↗

THE LINE

A big western circuit.

The supplied track makes a full mountain loop on the western side of Mount Brandon, gaining nearly 1,000 metres before returning on a separate line. The plotted shape above comes directly from the recorded GPX. It is not a suggested route generated by the website.

01Western approachA steady opening climb from the recorded start.

02High mountain groundExposed terrain where cloud and wind can arrive quickly.

03Mount Brandon ridgeThe recorded high point reaches 941 m.

04Western returnA long separate descent closes the loop.

BEFORE YOU GO

A long, exposed mountain day.

A proper mountain day needs a proper plan.

Mount Brandon’s upper slopes are open mountain terrain where navigation, wind, cloud and ground conditions matter. This recorded loop is long and has almost 1,000 metres of ascent.

Navigate independentlyCarry a paper map and compass and know how to use them.
Keep a backupAvoid relying on a phone or this GPX alone.
Know when to turnTurn back if cloud, wind, rain or winter conditions exceed your experience.
Share your planLeave your route and expected return time with someone.

Read Kerry Mountain Rescue guidance ↗

In an emergency Call 112 or 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue.

A NOTE BEFORE YOU GO

Walk responsibly.

Your route. Your decisions.

This guide describes one recorded outing and may not reflect current access, path conditions or hazards. Weather and mapping are guidance only. You are responsible for your route choice, navigation, equipment and decisions. If in doubt, turn back.

Leave No Trace.

Plan ahead, respect landowners, livestock, wildlife and other walkers. Use durable ground where practical, take all waste home, leave what you find and do not light fires without permission.

Read the Leave No Trace Ireland Seven Principles ↗

Track geometry and activity time come from the GPX. Elevation, cumulative distance, ascent and descent come from the matching GeoJSON supplied by @kerrymountains.rob.