Luggala [Fancy Mountain] [Log an La]

Rising sharply above the dark waters of Lough Tay, this distinctive granite peak offers one of Wicklow's most iconic profiles. While the summit is a rounded, heathery plateau, its eastern face drops precipitously into the glacial valley below, providing a dramatic vantage point over the white sands and peaty waters of the 'Guinness Lake'.

• •The name Luggala comes from the Irish 'Log an Lá', meaning 'Hollow of the Hill', referring to the deep glacial valley it overlooks. The alternative name, Fancy Mountain, is a phonetic corruption of 'Fuinnse', the Irish word for an ash tree.
• •The hill overlooks Lough Tay, famously known as the Guinness Lake because its dark, peat-stained waters and imported white sand beach make it resemble a pint of stout; the estate was owned by the Guinness family for over 80 years.
• •Luggala’s eastern granite cliffs are a major destination for traditional rock climbing, hosting several hundred graded routes, including some of the longest multi-pitch climbs in Ireland.
• •The estate has served as a backdrop for numerous film and television productions, most notably appearing as the village of Kattegat in the series Vikings and providing locations for the film Braveheart.
• •From the summit cairn, you can look directly across the Cloghoge Valley to the broad, rounded shoulder of Djouce Mountain and south towards the steep-sided peaks of Knockree and Maulin.
• •Given the estate's history of hosting rock stars and film crews, you may find the local sheep are significantly more accustomed to being in the background of a cinematic masterpiece than those on neighbouring hills.