Moanbane [Moin Bhan]

About Moanbane [Moin Bhan]

High above the western shores of Poulaphouca Reservoir, this broad, peat-clad summit provides a quieter alternative to its loftier neighbours. The terrain is characteristically boggy, even by Wicklow standards, leading to a sprawling summit that rewards walkers with an expansive vista across the Blessington Lakes toward the plains of Kildare.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Móin Bhán, meaning 'White Bog.' This likely refers to the abundance of bog cotton that blooms across the plateau in summer, momentarily masking the dark peat beneath.
• •Positioned between Silly Hill to the south and Gravale to the north, Moanbane is a key waypoint on the high-level traverse toward Mullaghcleevaun, Wicklow’s second-highest peak.
• •The summit offers a bird's-eye perspective on the man-made Poulaphouca Reservoir; on clear days, you can easily trace the flooded valleys and the 'submerged' landscapes of the Blessington Lakes.
• •Despite being a Hewitt, Moanbane remains one of the more overlooked summits in the range, as hikers often bypass its wild, featureless plateau in favour of the more dramatic Glendalough peaks further east.
• •The 'White Bog' description is best treated as a topographical warning rather than a literal aesthetic; the ground here is notoriously soft, and staying dry-shod is less about skill and more about luck.