Knockmoylan [Knockshane] [Cnoc Maolain]

About Knockmoylan [Knockshane] [Cnoc Maolain]

Rising as the second-highest summit in the Knockmealdowns, this broad, heather-clad Hewitt offers a quieter alternative to its busier namesake neighbour. Usually reached via the high ridge from the west, its sprawling plateau rewards walkers with clear, expansive perspectives across the Blackwater Valley toward the distant Comeragh Mountains.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name Cnoc Maoláin translates as 'hill of the bald summit,' describing its rounded, exposed profile, though the peak is also frequently recorded as Knockshane (Cnoc Seáin).
• •Most walkers visit this peak as part of a high-level traverse starting from the Vee Pass, crossing the main summit of Knockmealdown before navigating the peat-heavy saddle to reach this top.
• •The summit offers a specific, celebrated view of the 'V' gap at the Vee Pass to the west, framed by the steep slopes of Sugarloaf Hill.
• •The col separating this peak from its higher neighbour is notorious for deep peat hags, ensuring that even in a dry summer, the 'bald hill' usually demands a certain amount of bog-trotting.