Spinc

About Spinc

Set within the rugged Maumtrasna highlands of South Mayo, this 510-metre peak occupies a remote corner of the Partry Mountains. Its character is defined by steep sandstone tiers and vast stretches of peat, offering a solitary alternative to the busier Connemara summits while overlooking the dramatic glaciated valley of Glendavock.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'An Spinc', meaning a pointed rock, pinnacle, or sharp projection, which aptly describes its position as a prominent spur on the western edge of the Maumtrasna plateau.
• •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a commanding view of Ireland’s only fjord, Killary Harbour, framed by the massive silhouettes of Mweelrea to the north and the Twelve Bens to the south.
• •Unlike its famous namesake in Glendalough, which features a well-maintained boardwalk, this Spinc requires navigating pathless, boggy terrain typical of the sandstone-rich Mayo uplands.
• •Despite being less than 1,700 feet high, its proximity to the Atlantic means it frequently bears the brunt of coastal weather systems, often disappearing into the mist long before its higher neighbours.