Buckoogh [Boc Umhach]

Tucked away in the wild Nephin Beg range of County Mayo, this hefty Marilyn offers a rugged, boggy ascent. Sitting south of the main Nephin Beg ridge, it overlooks the serene Lough Feeagh. It is a quiet, atmospheric peak, rewarding those who appreciate the vast, empty Atlantic landscapes of Ireland's west.

• •The name is derived from the Irish Boc Umhach, likely meaning 'the copper hump' or 'brassy swelling', a reference to the reddish-brown hue of the grasses and heather that cover its slopes.
• •From the summit, walkers are treated to a clear view of Nephin to the east and the maze of drumlin islands in Clew Bay to the south, while the desolate Owenduff bog stretches northwards.
• •Much of the hill sits within the bounds of the Wild Nephin National Park, an area celebrated as one of the last truly remote wildernesses in Ireland.
• •If you manage to complete the ascent without your boots disappearing into a Mayo bog hole, you haven't truly experienced the Nephin Begs; here, 'firm ground' is often just a polite suggestion.