Croaghanmoira [Cruachan Mhaigh Rath]

About Croaghanmoira [Cruachan Mhaigh Rath]

Overlooking the southern reaches of the Wicklow range, this substantial peak rises steeply between the Ow and Glenmalure valleys. The broad, heathery summit provides a commanding perspective across the deep glacial trench of Glenmalure toward the massive bulk of Lugnaquilla and the distinctive pointed profile of Mullacor.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'Cruachán Mhaigh Rath', which translates as the 'little hill of the plain of the fort', likely referring to ancient earthworks in the lower valleys.
• •The hill is a prominent landmark along the Wicklow Military Road, a 19th-century engineering project designed to provide British troops access to the rebel strongholds hidden in these mountains.
• •The summit offers one of the best profile views of Lugnaquilla’s eastern side, clearly showing the dramatic glacial hanging valleys known as the North and South Prisons.
• •A descent to the northwest leads into the Ow Valley, a secluded area far removed from the primary tourist trails of Glendalough.
• •The terrain between here and nearby Ballinacor Mountain consists of high-altitude blanket bog; local wisdom suggests that if you find a dry path across the col, you have likely wandered onto a different hill entirely.