Mangerton Mountain

About Mangerton Mountain

Dominating the skyline south of Killarney, this massive sandstone plateau offers a broad, often boggy summit quite unlike the jagged Reeks opposite. The ascent is defined by the dramatic Devil’s Punchbowl, a deep corrie lake, while the high point provides an immense vantage over the Lakes of Killarney and Kenmare Bay.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'An Mhangarta', which is often translated as 'the mangy' or 'shaggy' mountain, likely referring to the rough, weathered textures of its heathery slopes and peat hags.
• •The mountain is home to the Devil’s Punchbowl (Poll na nDeamhan), an oval-shaped corrie lake sitting at 670 metres. Historically, it served as the primary water source for Killarney town; its deep, icy waters are a landmark passed on the popular northern ascent.
• •In the 19th century, Mangerton was the most popular climb in the region for Victorian tourists. It was common for visitors to be carried up the mountain on ponies, often stopping to buy 'mountain dew'—a mixture of goat’s milk and poitín—from local girls along the trail.
• •From the summit plateau, the view west across the Black Valley reveals the entire eastern face of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, with the sharp peak of Carrauntoohil clearly visible. To the east, the ground drops away into the Horses' Glen, a steep-sided glacial valley containing three hidden loughs.
• •Due to the immense size and flatness of the summit plateau, navigating to the actual high point in thick mist can feel less like mountaineering and more like a very damp game of hide-and-seek among the peat hags.