Knockbrinnea East Top

About Knockbrinnea East Top

Sitting as a secondary summit on the northern spurs of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, this high point offers a dramatic vantage point over the Coomloughra Glen. The terrain is rugged and steep, typical of Kerry's Old Red Sandstone, providing an earned view of Carrauntoohil’s formidable north face across the deep valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish Cnoc Bríne. While 'Cnoc' translates simply as hill, 'Bríne' is likely a personal name, though some local lore associates it with the 'dripping' or 'teary' nature of the water-streaked cliffs that drain into the lakes below.
• •The summit forms part of the northern arm of the Coomloughra Horseshoe, one of Ireland's most celebrated high-level walking circuits, standing guard over the glacial corrie containing Lough Eighter.
• •From this position, the scale of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks is strikingly apparent; the jagged silhouette of the Beenkeragh Ridge and the steep, dark flanks of the Hag’s Tooth are clearly visible across the glen.
• •Standing at over 840 metres, the East Top is significantly higher than the vast majority of peaks in the British Isles, yet it is frequently treated as a mere footstool for the more famous summits that encircle it.