Knockoura [Cnoc Cumhura]

About Knockoura [Cnoc Cumhura]

Rising above the rugged Beara Peninsula, this 488m Marilyn offers a quintessential West Cork experience. The ascent through rough sandstone and boggy heath yields spectacular, earned views over Bantry Bay and the offshore sanctuary of Bere Island. It is a quiet, wind-scoured spot that captures the wild character of the Caha Mountains.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name Cnoc Cumhura translates as 'Fragrant Hill', likely referring to the scent of wild thyme or bog myrtle that can be found amongst the lower slopes during the summer months.
• •Positioned on the narrow spine of the peninsula, the summit offers a dual-aspect view: south across Bantry Bay to the Sheep's Head and north over the Kenmare River toward the mountains of the Iveragh Peninsula.
• •The hill is composed of Old Red Sandstone, a geology that creates the characteristically craggy, stepped terrain common across the Beara and Caha ranges.
• •It is often tackled as part of a wider exploration of the Slieve Miskish Mountains, providing a quieter alternative to the crowds drawn to the higher peaks near the Healy Pass.
• •Given the name, if you find the summit anything less than sweet-smelling, you have likely arrived during a horizontal Atlantic downpour.