Mount Kennedy

Set above the town of Newtownmountkennedy, this forested North Wicklow hill offers a straightforward ascent through commercial timber plantations. Though the summit is modest in height, it provides rewarding views of the Irish Sea to the east and the sharp, iconic silhouette of the Great Sugar Loaf rising to the north.

• •The hill’s name is derived from the Kennedy family, specifically Sir Robert Kennedy who established the surrounding estate in the 17th century; it subsequently gave its name to the nearby town of Newtownmountkennedy.
• •Positioned on the eastern fringes of the Wicklow Hills, it acts as a topographical stepping stone between the Irish Sea coast and the higher granite peaks of the interior.
• •The ascent primarily follows forestry tracks managed by Coillte, providing a sheltered walk through dense stands of Sitka spruce before reaching the 365-metre summit.
• •From the higher slopes, hikers can clearly identify the nearby Vartry Reservoir to the southwest and the rounded profile of Djouce Mountain further inland.
• •Despite the aspirational name, visitors are more likely to encounter a log harvester than any mountain-top majesty.