Knocknagantee [Cnoc na gCainte]

About Knocknagantee [Cnoc na gCainte]

Rising steeply above the glaciated valleys of the southern Iveragh Peninsula, this rugged Hewitt offers a classic Kerry experience of sandstone rock and high peat hags. It is the culminating point of a wild ridge, rewarding the ascent with expansive views over the Kenmare River and across to the Beara Peninsula.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name translates from the Irish Cnoc na gCainte as 'Hill of the Talkers' or 'Hill of the Speakers.' While the exact origin is uncertain, it likely refers to the way voices carry and echo across the steep-sided corries that bite into the mountain’s flanks.
• •It forms the high point of a spectacular glaciated landscape at the head of the Coomshanna Glen. Hillwalkers often tackle it as part of a grand circuit that includes the neighbouring peaks of Finnaragh and Coomanassig.
• •The summit offers an exceptional vantage point over the southern Kerry coastline. On a clear day, the view extends past the Kenmare River estuary to the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula, and northwards to the jagged skyline of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks.
• •As a Hewitt, the mountain belongs to a select list of Irish peaks over 2,000 feet with at least 30 metres of topographical prominence, marking it as a significant objective for peak-baggers in the Republic.
• •Despite being called the 'Hill of the Talkers,' the most common sound at the summit is the wind whistling through the sandstone outcrops, as the local terrain tends to discourage long-winded conversations.