Maumakeogh [Mam an Cheo]

About Maumakeogh [Mam an Cheo]

Rising above the rugged North Mayo coastline, this modest but sprawling Marilyn offers a classic Irish bogland experience. It occupies a wild, peat-covered landscape between Ballycastle and Belmullet. The ascent is largely pathless, requiring a navigational eye and a tolerance for heavy ground, but the reward is an immense Atlantic horizon.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'Mám an Cheo', which translates as the 'Pass of the Mist'. It is an apt description for a coastal height that frequently snags Atlantic weather systems, often remaining shrouded while the surrounding lowlands stay clear.
• •Its position on the northern edge of County Mayo provides exceptional views over the Neolithic landscape of the Céide Fields and the famous sea stack at Dún Briste off Downpatrick Head.
• •The terrain is dominated by thick blanket bog, a characteristic feature of the North Mayo wilds that makes for heavy going but supports a unique ecosystem of heathers and bog cotton.
• •Given the name, it is perhaps the only hill in the region where reaching the summit and seeing absolutely nothing can be considered a successful, on-brand cultural experience.