Purple Mountain [An Sliabh Corcra]

Overlooking the Gap of Dunloe, this imposing mass is defined by its shattered sandstone scree and steep, rugged slopes. While part of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, it stands distinct from the central ridge, offering a formidable ascent and a commanding perspective over the Lakes of Killarney and the Black Valley.

• •The name derives from the Irish An Sliabh Corcra, referencing the distinctive hue of the Devonian Old Red Sandstone scree that blankets its upper slopes. Under the right light—typically after a heavy rain shower followed by low sun—the rock takes on a strikingly literal purple-grey tint.
• •Positioned between the main Macgillycuddy’s Reeks to the west and the Lakes of Killarney to the east, the mountain is physically separated from the central ridge by the deep glacial gorge of the Gap of Dunloe.
• •From the summit, the view across the Gap provides one of the most impressive profiles of the eastern face of Carrauntoohil, while the vista to the north-east encompasses the full expanse of Lough Leane and the Killarney valley.
• •Although a Marilyn and a Hewitt in its own right, it is most frequently climbed as part of a three-peak traverse that includes its lower northern neighbours, Tomies Mountain and Shehy Mountain.
• •Visitors expecting a vibrant violet peak may be disappointed on a typical Kerry morning; the mountain's namesake colour requires a specific alchemy of moisture and light to be visible through the prevailing Atlantic grey.