Temple Hill

Guarding the western edge of the Galty range, this impressive peak offers a more secluded experience than its higher neighbours. Characterised by steep, grassy slopes and a broad, peat-capped summit, it provides a rigorous ascent. Reaching the cairn rewards walkers with a sense of isolation and commanding views across the Golden Vale.

• •Derived from the Irish Cnoc na dTeampall, the name translates as 'Hill of the Churches.' It likely refers to historical land ownership by a local religious house or its position overlooking ancient ecclesiastical sites in the surrounding glens.
• •The summit serves as a fantastic vantage point for studying the rest of the range; the massive, dark northern cliffs of Galtymore are clearly visible to the east, while the Ballyhoura Hills lie across the valley to the southwest.
• •It is often the first peak tackled on the 'Galty Crossing,' a strenuous linear traverse of the entire range, and is separated from its neighbour Lyracappul by a significant, often waterlogged col known as the Carrigeen Mountain saddle.
• •You are far more likely to find a shivering group of ewes huddled behind the summit cairn than any actual place of worship; the 'temple' here is strictly metaphorical, built of sandstone and peat.