Looking down the Devil's Ladder path from the top of the col between Cnoc na Toinne and Carrauntoohil.
Cnoc na Toinne is most frequently encountered as the minor summit that forms the col with Carrauntoohil, through which most hill walkers travel on their way summiting Ireland's highest mountain. The col is most commonly accessed from the Hag's Glen (via Cronin's Yard), by ascending a loose rocky path known as the Devil's Ladder (see photo opposite).[b][4][5]
Because of the deterioration of the Devil's Ladder path, hill walkers also use the Zig-Zag path on the northern side of the north-west spur of Cnoc na Toinne, known as Bóthar na Gíge, as an alternative route. This path brings walkers closer to the actual summit of Cnoc na Toinne.[6][7]
Cnoc na Toinne lies between the Coomloughra Reeks and the Eastern Reeks and effectively separates the two main sections of the MacGillycuddy Reeks range, each section containing half of the Reeks summits that are above 3,000 ft in height. The north-easterly ridge that rises up from the top of the Devil's Laddercol to Cnoc na Toinne, then rises further to neighbouring Cnoc an Chuillinn 958 metres (3,143 ft), where is runs in a straight north-easterly direction, taking in several major summits, connected by a high sharp ridge, before ending at Cruach Mhór 932 metres (3,058 ft).[7][4]
Eastern Reeks section as seen from Carrauntoohil. The large green ridge in the right foreground is Cnoc na Toinne, and the Zig-Zag path is near its left edge
^Paul Tempan in Irish Hills and Mountain Names notes that it has also been called Irish: An Caisleán Gael, meaning 'the bright castle'.[2]
^It is not clear whether the term Devil's Ladder is linked to the Irish proverb: "Go ndeine an diabhal dréimire de cnámh do dhroma ag piocadh úll i ngairdín Ifrinn." (May the devil make a ladder of your backbone [and] pluck apples in the garden of hell).[3]
^Siggins, Lorna (24 February 2018). "Chaos on Carrauntoohil: Too few guides, too late starting". Irish Times. The party reached the summit at about 3pm, and the plan was to descend via the "Zig Zags", an old mule path down the north side of Cnoc na Toinne. This descent is regarded as safer, although serious accidents have occurred on that part of the route before. However, some of the walkers opted for the Devil's Ladder.
^ abRyan, Jim (2006). Carrauntoohil and MacGillycuddy's Reeks: A Walking Guide to Ireland's Highest Mountains. Collins Press. ISBN978-1905172337.
^Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN978-1-84889-164-7