Cnoc Leitreach [Owenduff] [Knockletragh]

About Cnoc Leitreach [Owenduff] [Knockletragh]

Rising from the peat-rich wilderness of the Nephin Beg range, this Marilyn offers a rugged, remote experience in the heart of Mayo. Known for its challenging, boggy terrain, the ascent provides stark, expansive views across the Owenduff River valley and the jagged peaks of the Ballycroy mountains to the east.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Cnoc Leitreach stems from the Irish 'leitir', which refers to a hillside or slope, often implying one that is particularly wet or boggy—a fitting description for this corner of the Mayo landscape.
• •The hill sits within the Owenduff/Nephin Complex, a Special Area of Conservation that protects one of the last remaining active blanket bog systems in Western Europe.
• •While rarely climbed as a standalone peak, it overlooks the Bangor Trail, a remote and historic 16th-century cattle droving route that cuts through the nearby uninhabited valleys.
• •The summit offers a clear westward perspective towards the Atlantic, where the distinctive profile of Slievemore and the high sea cliffs of Achill Island dominate the horizon.
• •If you reach the top with entirely dry boots, you have likely experienced a rare Mayo drought that local meteorologists will be talking about for years.