Clogrennan Hill [Rossmore Hill] [Cnoc Chloch Grianain]

About Clogrennan Hill [Rossmore Hill] [Cnoc Chloch Grianain]

Rising above the River Barrow just west of Carlow, this forested summit marks a high point on the edge of the Castlecomer Plateau. While the peak itself is wrapped in commercial timber, the lower slopes offer expansive views across the fertile Barrow valley toward the distant granite spine of the Blackstairs Mountains.

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Did You Know?

• •The Irish name Cnoc Chloch Grianain translates to the 'hill of the stone sun-palace,' likely referring to an ancient residence or a particularly bright vantage point overlooking the valley.
• •The hill is synonymous with the local lime industry; the Clogrennan Lime works have operated at the base of these slopes since 1816, drawing from the high-quality Carboniferous limestone found here.
• •Positioned on the border of counties Carlow and Laois, the eastern flanks provide a clear perspective of Carlow town and the meandering River Barrow as it flows south toward Kilkenny.
• •Despite its modest height of 336 metres, its relative isolation gives it enough prominence to be classified as a Marilyn, a status it shares with much larger peaks like Mount Leinster.
• •Negotiating the dense forestry tracks to find the exact highest point often feels less like mountaineering and more like a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with a trig pillar.