Douce Mountain [Damhais]

Rising from the wild moorlands north of Bantry, this West Cork summit offers a rugged experience typical of the Shehy Mountains. The terrain is a tactile mix of soft peat and sandstone ribs, requiring careful footwork. It is a rewarding vantage point, providing clear sights over Bantry Bay and the jagged Caha Mountains to the west.

• •The name is derived from the Irish word 'damh', meaning an ox or stag, suggesting the hill was historically known as a place for high-altitude grazing or for sighting red deer.
• •Despite its modest elevation, the hill is classified as a Marilyn due to its relative isolation; this prominence ensures an excellent, unobstructed view of Knockboy, the highest point in County Cork.
• •The summit offers a specific panoramic perspective of the Borlin Valley and the winding mountain pass that connects the townlands of Bantry and Kilgarvan.
• •In this part of West Cork, the 'summit track' is frequently a matter of opinion shared only between the local sheep and the most optimistic of hillwalkers.