Croaghaun SW Top

Perched on the western fringe of Achill Island, this dramatic Hewitt forms part of the massive Croaghaun sea-cliff system. The terrain is a rugged mix of quartzite and peat, offering a dizzying sense of exposure. It serves as a quieter alternative to the main summit, looking directly down into the wild Atlantic.

• •The name Croaghaun is derived from the Irish Cruachán, meaning a 'small stack' or 'conical mountain,' a somewhat modest description for a peak forming part of some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
• •Positioned on the south-western shoulder of the massif, this top offers a direct line of sight down to the turquoise waters of Keem Bay, framed by the sheer drop of the Moyteoge Head cliffs.
• •Looking south across the mouth of Clew Bay, the summit provides a clear perspective of the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick and the distant, jagged peaks of the Twelve Bens in Connemara.
• •The approach from the west is famously pathless, requiring a steady trudge through Atlantic blanket bog and heather before the ground firms up into the rocky quartzite of the higher ridges.
• •Given its position on the extreme edge of Europe, the next significant landmass to the west is North America, though the local sheep seem remarkably indifferent to the trans-Atlantic prestige.