This is a moderately challenging walk with an early steepish ascent up past the spectacular Torc waterfall. At this point we take a left turn on to rough track, then on to board walks which eventually give way to peat covered tussocks and stony tracks. The view to the Upper Lake to the south begins to open up and the ‘shoulders’ of Torc are beneath. As we take the last few steps to the summit, a wonderful vista opens up. A superb view of Killarney’s three lakes, the McGillycuddy Reeks and the Killarney valley beneath you. The Dingle peninsula stretches out to the west, and to the north the land rises gently beyond Killarney town. If we are lucky we may spot a few Red Deer that live in the National Park.

The plan is to leave a car at Derrycunnihey church as we drive down to the start from Molls Gap on the N71 and this gives us the option on the walk back down to cut off from the route back to the car park and finish at Derrycunnihey Church.

Torc Mountain gets its name from the Irish word “torc” meaning boar and is steeped in Irish Mythology.  It is said that an enchanted boar was killed there by the legendary hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool), the mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology who led the Fianna warriors in the 3rd century.

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