Croghan Mountain

About Croghan Mountain

Straddling the border of Wicklow and Wexford, this prominent Marilyn is best known for the 18th-century gold rush on its northern slopes. The climb transitions from dense forestry into open, heather-clad moorland, leading to a trig-marked summit with expansive views across the Irish Sea and south toward the Wexford coast.

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Did You Know?

• •The name comes from the Irish Cruachán, meaning a small mountain or conical hill. It is frequently referred to as Croghan Kinsella, a nod to the Uí Ceinnselaig (Kinsella) clan who historically ruled this region of south Leinster.
• •In 1795, the mountain became the centre of an 'Irish Gold Rush' after a massive gold nugget was discovered in the Ballinvally Stream. Over the following weeks, hundreds of locals flocked to the 'Gold Mines River' before the military intervened to secure the area for the Crown.
• •From the summit trig pillar, look north across the Ow valley to the high peaks of the main Wicklow massif, where the massive bulk of Lugnaquilla—Ireland's highest peak outside Kerry—dominates the skyline.
• •The mountain was a site of significant activity during the 1798 Rebellion, serving as a refuge and lookout point for rebel forces due to its commanding views over the surrounding plains.
• •While the 'Gold Mines River' still flows down the slopes, the only thing modern walkers are guaranteed to find in abundance is the notoriously stubborn Wicklow gorse.