An Cnapan Mor

About An Cnapan Mor

Rising above the Dingle Peninsula, this broad, peaty Hewitt offers a quieter alternative to the celebrated Brandon range. Often reached from the Connor Pass, its summit provides an expansive plateau with clear views across Dingle Bay toward the Iveragh Peninsula and the distant, jagged profile of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish An Cnapán Mór, which translates literally as 'The Great Hillock' or 'The Big Lump.' It is a functional description of the mountain's rounded, bulky silhouette when viewed from the lower valleys of the peninsula.
• •The peak is often climbed as part of a high-level circuit starting near the Connor Pass, taking in the neighbouring summits of Slievanea and Croaghskearda to form a grand horseshoe around the deep glacial corrie of Lough Naparka.
• •On a clear day, the summit serves as an exceptional grandstand for the Brandon Range to the west; you can clearly see the sharp drop-offs of the Faha Ridge and the towering 952-metre peak of Mount Brandon itself.
• •Despite its significant height, its status as a Hewitt—a peak over 2,000 feet with at least 30 metres of prominence—means it remains relatively quiet compared to the more famous Irish 'Munros' further south in Kerry.
• •While the name promises a 'Big Lump,' the reality is often a 'Big Sponge,' as the summit’s peaty plateau is remarkably effective at retaining Atlantic rainfall for weeks after the last storm has passed.