Lakeen [Cronelea Hill] [Leaicin]

About Lakeen [Cronelea Hill] [Leaicin]

Situated in the southern reaches of the Wicklow Hills, this 357m Marilyn offers a prominent profile despite its modest elevation. Characterised by rolling slopes near the Shillelagh border, the summit provides clear, earned views across to the granite massif of Lugnaquilla and south towards the Wexford hills and Slieveboy.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name Leaicin (Leaicín) translates as 'little cheek' or 'little hillside,' a descriptive term often used in Gaelic topography to denote a specific sloping flank or a small, rounded prominence.
• •Cronelea, the hill's alternative name, likely derives from the Irish 'Crón Shléibhe,' meaning 'brown hill,' referring to the seasonal colour of the heather and rough grasses that cover its upper reaches.
• •Its classification as a Marilyn is significant; it possesses at least 150 metres of prominence, making it a surprisingly independent viewpoint compared to the more interconnected ridges of the central Wicklow range.
• •The summit offers a distinctive perspective on the Derry River valley, with the prominent wind turbines of Raheenleagh Hill visible to the northeast across the Tinahely gap.
• •With three different names to choose from—Lakeen, Cronelea, and Leaicin—the hill remains remarkably successful at avoiding the crowds that flock to the more famous Glendalough peaks further north.