Knockreagh [An Cnoc Riabhach]

About Knockreagh [An Cnoc Riabhach]

Tucked into the rugged spine of the Beara Peninsula, this 499-metre peak sits just shy of the official mountain threshold. Characterised by the rocky, glaciated sandstone common to the Caha range, it offers a quieter experience than its higher neighbours, with clear views over the Kenmare River and Kilmakilloge Harbour.

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Did You Know?

• •An Cnoc Riabhach translates from Irish Gaelic as 'the brindled hill,' a name likely inspired by the mottled pattern of grey Old Red Sandstone outcrops and dark heather that cloaks its slopes.
• •Positioned on the wild backbone of the peninsula, the summit offers a commanding vista of the Kenmare River to the north and the jagged silhouette of the Caha Mountains stretching eastward toward Glengarriff.
• •The hill falls just 90 centimetres short of the 500-metre mark used for major Irish mountain classifications, meaning it narrowly misses out on being listed as an Arderin or a Vandeleur-Lynam.
• •The ascent requires navigating a classic Beara landscape of glaciated sandstone ribs and peat hags, which can be surprisingly disorienting when the Atlantic mist rolls in from the coast.
• •It remains a purist’s peak; lacking the height to attract the typical list-checkers, you are far more likely to share the summit with a stray sheep than another walker.