Mweelin [Maoileann]

About Mweelin [Maoileann]

Rising above the rugged Borlin Valley in West Cork, this rounded sandstone summit offers a quieter alternative to its higher Shehy neighbours. Its terrain is typical of the region—a mix of rough heather and boggy patches—providing expansive views over Bantry Bay and the distant Caha Mountains to the west.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish word Maoileann, meaning a bleak or bald hill-top, which describes the rounded, weather-beaten profile of its sandstone and heather summit.
• •Positioned on the high ground between Bantry and Kenmare, the hill is frequently hiked as part of a ridge circuit that includes the nearby 508-metre Barraboy Mountain to the south.
• •The summit provides a clear perspective of the Beara Peninsula, with the narrow finger of Whiddy Island visible in the waters of Bantry Bay below.
• •Navigating the summit plateau requires a steady pace and a tolerance for peat hags, which are often deep enough to make the modest elevation feel like a much longer day out.