Knockaphuca [Cnoc an Phuca]

About Knockaphuca [Cnoc an Phuca]

Rising above the rugged West Cork landscape near the Mizen Peninsula, this modest Marilyn offers a classic coastal walking experience. Though standing at just 237 metres, its position on the Atlantic fringe ensures a sense of exposure and commanding views over Bantry Bay and the surrounding rocky heathland.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish Cnoc an Phúca, meaning "Hill of the Pooka," a reference to the shape-shifting spirit of Gaelic folklore that is said to frequent wild, lonely places.
• •Despite its humble height, it is classified as a Marilyn because its summit rises at least 150 metres above the surrounding terrain, marking it as a significant landmark in the local topography.
• •From the summit, walkers can look south across Roaringwater Bay toward the iconic silhouette of the Fastnet Rock lighthouse, known as "Ireland's Teardrop."
• •Named after a mischievous spirit known for leading travellers astray, the hill’s shifting Atlantic mists often do the Púca’s work for it without the need for any actual supernatural intervention.