Choose a route for the conditions.
Check a mountain forecast, daylight and local access before leaving. Consider wind, visibility and ground conditions as well as rain. Select a route within your experience and leave room to change or turn back. Height alone cannot tell you how demanding the day will be.
Bring navigation you know how to use.
A current detailed map and compass, with the skills to use them, matter when the path disappears or visibility drops. Carry appropriate footwear, waterproofs, warm layers, food, water, a headtorch and basic emergency equipment. A charged phone is useful, but an online county profile is not a navigation tool.
Check the place, not just the peak.
A high-point listing does not create access rights. Follow current local guidance, respect landowners and wildlife, and leave gates as you find them. At Cuilcagh, the boardwalk viewing platform is not the county summit; check the operator’s current guidance. For Lugnaquilla, consult the Defence Forces’ current Glen of Imaal range notices and permitted walking routes.
Tell someone your plan.
Leave your route and expected return with a reliable person. Know what to do if you become lost or injured. Mountaineering Ireland advises calling 112 or 999, asking for the Gardaí/Police and saying you need Mountain Rescue. Learn relevant mountain skills before relying on them in an emergency. Use the original advice linked below for fuller preparation.
Read the original guidance
- Mountaineering Ireland: getting started ↗
- Mountaineering Ireland: staying safe ↗
- Kerry Mountain Rescue: mountain safety ↗
- Defence Forces: Glen of Imaal notices ↗
Sources checked 15 October 2026. Check current notices before your visit.
