Coumshingaun Lough

I had an Irish speaking friend years ago who laughed at my pronunciation of Coumshingaun Lough. He was right of course because I butchered it. Thankfully he told me how to pronounce it and I have since forgotten that information, like most good information it leaves my head. After a quick look on the trusty Internet, I have found how to pronounce it, at least by the locals which is good enough for me (Academics argue over the pronunciation). I refer to this article where it says the pronunciation is Com Shin-aun so basically drop the g.

Coumshingaun Lough is a beautiful walk which can cater for a range of different abilities. Here are the main routes

Coumshingaun Loop Walk

  • Length: 7.2 Km
  • elevation gain 627 m
  • Level: Strenuous
  • Time: 3 to 4 hours
Map of Coumshingaun
Map of the Coum Loop

Lake Walk

  • Length: 3.6 Km (Up and Back)
  • Elevation gain: 180m
  • Level: Moderate
  • Time: 2 hours
Map of Coumshingaun
The friendly Lough Walk

Coumshingaun Lough Walk

Both walks start at Kilclooney Woods or there is another car park just down the road. It can get very busy on the weekends so get up early to secure a parking place. Please park responsibly, walkers get a bad reputation for parking inconsiderately.

Kilclooney is mainly a coniferous woodland of Sitka spruce, native Scots pine, Norway spruce, European larch and Western hemlock with small pockets of broadleaves dispersed throughout. Foxes, badgers and fallow deer are regularly spotted, although elusive. The agile red squirrel may be seen from time to time foraging or darting up the trunks of trees and running along the branches in the canopy above. Try and spot the disguised radio tower on the left when you are walking up the forest trail. They have done a great job to make the tower look like a tree and it works pretty well.

Kilclooney Woods
Kilclooney Woods is a beautiful place in itself

The trail is pretty obvious from the car park just follow uphill and you will eventually get to the start of the mountain trail. This is a well-used path so its hard to miss. Keep following up and you will start to get some great views looking South and East of the patchwork of fields in Waterford. you can see the Saltee Islands on a clear day.

The Big Ridge

You can see the big ridge line now that will take you up and around the lake. It is an impressive ridge and is a pleasure to walk. It has a mix of rocky ground with some minor scrambling and some boggy sections too. If you decide to take the loop route it gains a lot of height quickly so breaks will be needed. You will be treated to views of one of Ireland’s best Corries, it is impressive and the scale of it is mighty. It is recommended to walk the loop in a clockwise direction because there is a few sections of scrambling climbing which is safer to climb up than climb down but the route can be done both ways.

Coumshingaun Lough
The Southern ridge line, the most popular route up.

Shorter Walk up to the Lake

If you opt for the shorter walk up to the lake you will not be disappointed. It is a fantastic walk with views Inside the corrie just as impressive as on top. This is a great walk if you have kids and don’t want to commit to the Bigger loop walk. The lake is packed full of brown trout and you can see fish jumping here regularly. Coumshingaun lake is 54 Metres Deep at its deepest point and can be as low as 6 degrees, So if your going in for a dip be mindful of that.

There used to be a hermit living in the Lake up till 1959 by the name of Jim Fitzgerald. Known as ‘Lackendara’. He Lived halfway up the Comeragh Mountains for over forty years. His home was a cave of sorts, with a roof comprised of bits of driftwood, stones and soil, and an entrance concealed by strips of hanging grain bags. A veteran of WW1, where he was said to have suffered shell-shock. He spent the remainder of his life in isolation in this rugged and unforgiving terrain in the foothills of the Comeraghs.

I am fascinated with this story. It would have taken a strong-willed human to live up in the mountains like this. If you would like to see the rock where he lived just click here. If you would like more information on this story there was a video made of him a couple of years back. I will link it here it’s worth a watch.

Crotty’s Rock

Crotty’s Rock is well worth a visit and is only a short walk away from the top of the loop walk. It can get very wet so be prepared for that. William Crotty was a highwayman who had a reputation for stealing from the rich and giving to the local people. He was betrayed by his long time friend and captured, he was hanged and quartered. His legend still lives on today and Crotty’s rock is a popular spot for walkers and climbers.

Crotty’s Rock is Situated North of Coumshigaun Lough

Final Thoughts

The Coumshingaun Lough is well worth a look for a Beginner or experienced walker. A lovely mix of terrain and the views are spectacular. There is plenty of history associated with this part of Waterford and is worth some further research if that’s your thing.

If you’re taking to the hills please remember to take some extra layers and food with you. The weather changes very quickly in the mountains and things can go wrong quickly. If you need more information on what to wear and bring with you to have a look at this.

if you would like to see any of my other posts please click Here

Directions to Kilclooney Woods

Youtube video of Coumshigaun

Video of Coumshingaun

Running for life

Growing Up I was never really sporty and if I was really honest with my self I would say I was overweight. Not obese but enough that other kids noticed and that is never fun.

” I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough.

I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. I was lucky growing up because we grow our own vegetables and we had our freezer full of our own animals so we had good healthy food and it was delicious so I got fat. later on, into my teens, I realised I needed to do something so I lost a bit of weight and I felt good about myself.

When I was about 18 I joined up for my first run it was a 5km and I absolutely loved it. it was the start of my running career and I haven’t stopped since.

“I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in.

I have been doing one or two events a year usually a 10km since then, so although I enjoyed it I never really invested a lot of time into it. then in 2017, I decided to up my game and I started running more consistently. I ran a couple of events in 2017 mainly 10 km but I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in.

Then in 2018, I fell off my Motorbike and broke a few bones so I didn’t do as much running as I would have liked but still got in Turf Warrior in Galway which is an obstacle race. I got in a 5km, 10km and I was meant to do the Clonakilty half marathon but my Mam got sick and I couldn’t go down so I did it on a treadmill instead(Not the same I know).

In 2019 I really upped my Running, I felt like I had missed out a lot from the previous year so I wanted to make up for it so I ran

  • Run A Muck
  • 10km Road
  • Tintern Abbey 8Km
  • Wexford 10KM
  • Viking Qtr Marathon
  • Stone Mad 10 Mile
  • Hell and Back
  • Greenway Half
  • Clonakilty Half

I had a good year of running and I enjoyed every second of it especially the hard times. I think it was during this year that I realised how much I need Running. I can easily wander and get distracted in life and I constantly need a compass pointing me in a direction and running gives me that. Even when life is not going to plan and things are falling apart I still have running to remind me to stick to the plan and keep working hard and move forward.

“there is no lying in running”

I love the challenge running brings to my life and the simplicity of it. there is no lying in running you can either run the distance or you cant.

I need challenges in my life especially physical ones. I find that if I slip into a routine where I don’t challenge myself physically I get into a rut and life becomes monotonous and boring and I get to a place where I don’t want to be. you learn the most from yourself when you’re challenging yourself. This is where true learning and development comes from. learning doesn’t come from just plodding along in life, you have to get up and rise to the challenge, not just in running but in work and relationships too.

Some of the best memories I have are of the times I had the hardest challenges.

” Get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later “

The name of this post is running for life and by that I mean, running gives me life. The energy I use when I’m training is given back to me in my self-esteem, dignity, self-worth and my overall energy levels. I cannot stress this enough, get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later on in life when you will be healthier and happier and probably richer because of potential future medical bills. if you hadn’t of looked after it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. the subject means a lot to me.

Shane