The Eagles Rock

Rising above the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, this rugged 530m summit offers a classic taste of the Irish east coast. Its stony, heather-clad slopes provide a challenging ascent, rewarding walkers with sharp views across Carlingford Lough to the Mourne Mountains and the expanse of the Irish Sea.

• •The name reflects the historical presence of Golden Eagles which nested among these high crags until the 19th century; in Irish, the peak is known as Carraig an Iolair.
• •This summit is part of the Cooley Mountains, the legendary setting for the Táin Bó Cúailnge, one of the most famous epics in ancient Irish mythology regarding the Cattle Raid of Cooley.
• •From the top, the view north across Carlingford Lough is dominated by the granite peaks of the Mourne Mountains, with the distinctive profile of Slieve Bingian clearly visible on a clear day.
• •Geologically, the area is part of the Carlingford Igneous Centre, where 60-million-year-old volcanic activity left behind the hard, dark gabbro rocks found underfoot.
• •While the name suggests a majestic aerial display, modern visitors are far more likely to be greeted by the indifferent stare of a mountain sheep than a bird of prey.