Hag's Tooth

About Hag's Tooth

Standing like a jagged sentinel at the head of the Hags Glen, this striking rock spire offers a steep, scrambling ascent. It serves as a dramatic gateway to the higher reaches of the Reeks, providing a rugged vantage point looking directly up at the formidable north face of Carrauntoohil.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name for the peak is Stumpa an tSaimh, which translates to 'Stump of the Sorrel'. The English name, 'Hag’s Tooth', is more descriptive of its jagged profile, referring to the Cailleach (the Hag of Kerry) who, according to local folklore, inhabits the high corries of the range.
• •It is a classic 'nunatak' or 'horn' feature; during the last glaciation, the ice sheets surrounding the peak were not deep enough to cover it, leaving the sharp rock exposed to frost shattering while the landscape below was smoothed by the movement of ice.
• •The summit provides a unique perspective on the 'Eagle's Nest' corrie. From here, you can clearly see the three distinct levels of the corrie floor and the entrance to the 'Heavenly Gates', a narrow path traversing the cliffs of Carrauntoohil.
• •Positioned between the twin lakes of Lough Gouragh and Lough Callee, the summit is one of the best places to observe the stark difference in water colour caused by the varying depths and mineral content of the two tarns.
• •It is arguably the only peak in Kerry where the 'view from the top' is largely a neck-straining lesson in how much further you still have to climb to reach the main ridge.