Devil's Punchbowl Mangerton Walk

6 miles (9.7 km)

The walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl on Mangerton Mountain begins at the car park at the base of Mangerton, a short drive from Killarney. From here a clear track rises gently across open moorland, the surface stony but well worn by walkers. Almost immediately the views begin to open, with glimpses back over the lakes of Killarney framed by heather and rough grasses.
The path continues steadily upwards, crossing small streams and patches of boggy ground, before climbing onto a long shoulder of the mountain. As height is gained the scenery grows more dramatic: Torc Mountain lies to the west, while behind, the Reeks dominate the horizon. The track narrows but remains clear as it skirts the slope, the ground dropping steeply away in places.
After around an hour and a half the route reaches the lip of the Devil’s Punchbowl, a corrie lake cradled in a dark bowl of cliffs near the summit plateau. The water lies still and deep, often mirroring the sky, with sheer slopes of rock and scree rising all around. It is a striking and atmospheric spot, with a sense of being enclosed high in the mountain.
From here many walkers simply retrace their steps, enjoying the long descent with sweeping views across the Killarney valley. For those seeking more, the path can be followed further upwards towards Mangerton’s broad summit plateau, but even without continuing, the Punchbowl itself makes for a memorable and rewarding destination.

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