Lugnaquilla [Log na Coille]

About Lugnaquilla [Log na Coille]

Dominating the Wicklow skyline, this massive granite massif is the highest point in Leinster. Its broad, often windswept summit plateau feels more like a Scottish Munro than a typical Irish hill. The ascent via the Glen of Imaal or Glenmalure offers dramatic contrasts between deep glacial corries and high, grassy moorland.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name Log na Coille translates as 'hollow of the wood'. This likely refers to the sheltered, once-wooded glacial valleys like Glenmalure that bite deep into the mountain's flanks.
• •Much of the mountain’s western approach lies within the Irish Defence Forces' Glen of Imaal firing range. Walkers must check the military firing schedule before setting out, as routes are strictly off-limits when red flags are flying.
• •The summit plateau is famously featureless and broad. In mist, the lack of landmarks makes it one of the most navigationally challenging spots in Ireland, as the ground drops away suddenly into the steep glacial couloirs of the North and South Prisons.
• •On a clear day, the view extends across the Irish Sea to the peaks of Snowdonia in Wales. Closer inland, you can pick out the distinctive profile of the Great Sugar Loaf to the north and the sprawling Blessington Lakes to the northwest.
• •As a Hewitt and a Marilyn, 'The Lug' is the highest peak in Ireland outside of County Kerry. Its height and isolation from the Atlantic coast mean it often holds snow cover significantly longer than its neighbours.
• •If you reach the summit and find yourself staring into a featureless white wall of Atlantic mist, you have experienced the mountain's most frequent and traditional 'view'.