Slievemaan

About Slievemaan

Tucked in the shadow of Lugnaquilla, this high, rounded shoulder of the Wicklow Mountains offers a quieter experience than its famous neighbor. Characterised by peat-hags and a steady, grassy ascent, the summit provides an excellent perspective into the Fraughan Rock Glen and the sprawling military lands of the Glen of Imaal.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Sliabh Meáin, meaning 'Middle Mountain.' It earns this title by sitting centrally on the high ridge connecting the massive bulk of Lugnaquilla to the south-western heights of Ballineddan.
• •The summit is a key waypoint on the 'Glenmalure Loop,' often reached after descending the steep, rocky slopes of Lugnaquilla’s South Prison or as a final high point before dropping back into the valley at Baravore.
• •From the summit cairn, walkers gain an exceptional view of the sprawling Glen of Imaal to the west, an area primarily used as an Irish Defence Forces artillery range, which remains strictly off-limits to hikers.
• •On a clear day, the view south extends past the rolling local peaks to the distinct, jagged profile of the Blackstairs Mountains sitting on the horizon over forty miles away on the Wexford border.
• •Navigation between Slievemaan and Lugnaquilla requires patience; the intervening col is a maze of eroded peat hags and bog pools that can swallow a walking pole—and the occasional boot—with surprising ease.