Letter South

Rising above the southern coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, this unassuming Hump offers a rugged, boggy ascent characteristic of the Kerry wilds. Though modest in height, its position provides a grandstand view over the Kenmare River towards the Caha Mountains, offering a quieter alternative to the busier Reeks further north.

• •The name "Letter" derives from the Irish word Leitir, which translates to a wet hillside or a sloping pasture—a fitting description for the saturated, peat-heavy flanks of this Iveragh ridge.
• •From the summit, the view south across the Kenmare River is dominated by the rugged skyline of the Beara Peninsula, specifically the sharp peaks of the Caha Mountains.
• •Walkers tackling this hill will encounter the typical Old Red Sandstone geology of Kerry, resulting in a landscape of dramatic rock steps interspersed with sections of deep blanket bog.
• •To the west, the higher ridge of Coomcallee dominates the skyline, but Letter South’s position closer to the coast often provides clearer views of the Atlantic during low-cloud days.
• •In keeping with its name, any walker managing to complete the circuit without their boots making a distinctive squelching sound has likely found a rare vein of dry Kerry weather.