Croaghaun [An Cruachan]

About Croaghaun [An Cruachan]

Rising above the Carlow-Wexford border, this heather-clad summit marks the northern extent of the Blackstairs range. Though lower than its neighbours, it offers a quieter alternative to the popular Mount Leinster. The terrain is typical of the region: a mix of rough grazing and peaty moorland with expansive views across the Barrow Valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish An Cruachán, meaning 'the little stack' or 'small peaked hill', a common descriptive term for rounded summits that stand out from the surrounding plateau.
• •Positioned at the northern end of the Blackstairs Mountains, the summit provides a clear perspective of the range’s backbone, looking directly south towards the prominent TV transmitter mast on Mount Leinster.
• •As a Hump—a hill with a prominence of at least 100 metres—it is more isolated than many of the higher tops in the area, resulting in an unobstructed view across the lowlands of County Wexford towards the Irish Sea.
• •While often tackled as a standalone walk from the nearby Corrabut Gap, it serves as the logical northern anchor for those attempting the full 'Blackstairs Walk', a challenging ridge traverse.
• •The hill manages to feel significantly larger than its modest 455 metres, mostly due to the sheer persistence of the local bog and knee-deep heather on the approach.