Banna Sand Dunes
A small native deciduous wood on the outskirts of Tralee beside the main N21 Tralee to Limerick & Dublin road. The area is a special area of conservation due to the special marshy woodland conditions & many important native tree specimens. We haven't used this map in some time due to access problems, but the wood has been bought by Tralee Town Council, who intend to open it up for public amenity. This is to be done in conjunction with the construction of the new N22 road from the end of 2003. Resurveying will take place in 2004 with the hope of using it from late 2004 or 2005. Last surveyed: 1983(!) - Grid reference Q 875 130.
Banna Sand Dunes
An intricate sand dune system and great beach near Tralee. The (very long) beach is very popular, especially during the summer. Runnability is varied on the dunes, from very fast on areas of grazing commonage, to quite slow along some of the dunes adjacent to the beach due to thick marram grass & undergrowth, especially brambles. Take the R551 North Kerry Coast Road from Tralee through Ardfert. Turn-off for Banna is about 2km beyond Ardfert, watch for the signpost. Events use all the car parks, follow the O-signs. Last surveyed: 1994 - Grid reference Q 755 224.
An excellent, intricate area of open hillside. On the south-eastern shores of Lough Caragh, Glenbeigh (near Killorglin). This map is based around Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre, who use it mostly. Follow signs for Cappanalea OEC from Killorglin. Last surveyed: 2002 - Grid reference V 730 898.
This is a 1:5,000 version of some of the area surrounding Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre. Last surveyed: 2002 - Grid reference V 730 898.
Derrynane is Ireland's smallest national park, but the variety of terrain here is phenomenally varied. The map encompasses Derrynane Estate proper, the home of Daniel O' Connell, and the adjoining Abbey Island. Derrynane estate consists of lovely native deciduous woodland, much like Muckross. Abbey Island, reachable from the beach Derrynane Estate fronts onto (except at high tide!), is made up of intricate sand dunes. At the same time, the area is not overly large, so plans are afoot to extend the map into neighbouring open mountainside. Then it should make for a really interesting map! Take the N70 Ring-Of-Kerry road from Killorglin or Kenmare to Caherdaniel. The entrance to the estate is clearly signposted off the N70 just west of Caherdaniel. Last surveyed: 2000 - Grid reference V 525 588.
Cappanalea
A new map of a section of the Slieve Mish Mountains to the south of Tralee. The area goes west from the old Tralee-Castlemaine road on the northern side of the summit. The area includes the reputed grave of Scotia, Queen of the Milesians (after whom Scotland derives its name), where she fell in battle as they began the Celtic conquest of Ireland! Last surveyed: 2002 - Grid reference Q 835 097.
This is the largest area of sand dunes in the country. It is a large spit jutting out of the southern side of the Dingle Peninsula, which nearly completely blocks off the River Maine estuary from Dingle Bay. While there are many large dunes, the main characteristic of Inch is its huge holes. This is a superb open area for orienteering. Take the R561 Castlemaine-Anascaul road. The car park is just off the road on the right a few hundred meters beyond Inch village. Resurveyed for the 2004 Irish Championships. Last surveyed: 2003 - Grid reference Q 645 006.
A small Coillte wood near Milltown. The area adjacent to the road is deciduous, with coniferous plantations behind. Much of the coniferous wood has been harvested recently, so the area will be only of limited use for the near future. The wood is to the left of the N70 Tralee-Killorglin road about 1.5km beyond Milltown towards Killorglin. Last surveyed: 1999 - Grid reference Q 814 002.
Killaclohane Wood
Another fairly small Coillte wood on the other side of Milltown to Kilderry. Haven't been here in ages so can't say very much about it, only that it is fairly overgrown, with lots of undergrowth. The wood is 2.5km east of Milltown at the end of a minor road that starts in the centre of the village. Last surveyed: 1993 - Grid reference Q 843 012.
A perennial staple of the KerryO orienteering calendar. This large park, comprising part of Killarney National Park, as well as serving as the town park, is a varied mixture of open land & woodland. And being right in the heart of Killarney, bordering the town centre, it is an organiser's dream. While not very complex, it lends itself to delightful orienteering. Large areas are very flat with fast running, but these lead on to areas with quite a bit of climb & complex detail. And don't forget the great views of Lough Leane with the Reeks in the background from the open areas and the nice area out on Ross Island. Events normally held at the Knockreer House entrance, on New St. across the road from Killarney Cathedral (Grid reference V 958 907), or the car parks at Ross Castle at the south end of the map (Grid reference V 961 888). Last surveyed: 1999.
Muckross - Dinish
The fourth sand dune area in Kerry to be mapped for orienteering, this area was chosen as the ideal venue for the 2004 Irish Relay Championships. Surveying is taking place in Spring 2004 and more details will follow when this is complete. Last surveyed: 2004 - Grid reference Q 617 160.
Our most important map of all. Not the most intricate or complex area out of all the maps, but certainly the biggest. This, together with its perfect location, mean we use it more than any of our other maps. It really is two maps on one sheet - Muckross and Torc to the east and Dinish to the West. Dinish is almost completely cut off from Muckross & Torc by Muckross lake & the almost impassable northern slopes of Torc Mountain. There have hardly ever been any events in Dinish that have taken in the other areas. Dinish is mostly complex open mountain with some woodland at the lakeside. Events in Dinish are always based in Dinish car park just off the N71 Killarney-Kenmare road beyond Muckross & Torc. Grid Reference V 950 847.
Around Muckross House, Muckross Arboretum, Muckross Abbey and Blue Pool, the terrain is relatively flat mixed Parkland with a lot of nice deciduous woodland with interesting detail and very fast open grazing land with scattered trees. Torc, on the other hand, on the south side of the map is on slopes with heavy contour detail. The area is mainly a mixture of deciduous & coniferous forest (the coniferous constantly shrinking under a Dúchas program of regenerating native woodland). Events start in Muckross House or Arboretum car parks (vehicle entrance for Muckross House off the N71), Muckross Abbey (car park adjacent to N71 at Abbey entrance across from Muckross Park Hotel), Blue Pool (200m up road beside Muckross Park Hotel), or Upper Torc (The Upper Torc car park above the waterfall, 1.5km up minor road. Exit N71 left 350m beyond Muckross House Vehicle Entrance). Grid references: House - V 970 863; Arboretum - V 967 856; Abbey - V 978 869; Blue Pool - V 979 867; Upper Torc - V 967 842. Last surveyed: 1999.
Muckross - Upper Torc
This is a 1:10,000 version of some of the Muckross area centred around Muckross House. It was produced in 1997 for the World Cup races staged in Glenflesk & Killarney by CorkO. Used since then for some events based in Muckross House or Arboretum. Grid references: House - V 970 863; Arboretum - V 967 856; Abbey - V 978 869. Last surveyed: 1997.
A very small wood on the north side of Tralee. Used for introductory courses & training purposes. Was 1:5,000 but I recently re-surveyed it at 1:2,500. Entrance from the N69 Listowel road opposite Spar shop leaving the town. Then take a right up the hill following the Collis-Sandes House signs. Last surveyed: 2001 - Grid reference Q 847 164.
Another sand spit jutting out into Dingle Bay, this time from the South off the Iveragh peninsula. It is almost opposite Inch (just somewhat to the west) and Inch Point to Rossbeigh Point is often swum at low tide. It is a more compact area of sand dunes to it's northern neighbour, but just as technical, and similarly sports a very long beach both sides of the spit. The map is not as detailed as Inch though, due to a lack of proper photogrammetry for the original survey. We hope to re-map it at 1:10,000 & 2.5 meter contours in the near future. Take the N70 Ring-Of-Kerry road from Killorglin to Glenbeigh. Turn off onto the R564 at Glenbeigh. The R564 terminates at Rossbeigh. Last surveyed: 1989 - Grid reference V 646 916.
A map of the school grounds used by the school. Last surveyed: 1985 - Grid reference R 068 475.
Used for introducing children to orienteering. Last surveyed: 1983 - Grid reference Q 837 140.