Derrybawn Mountain

About Derrybawn Mountain

Rising steeply above the southern shores of Glendalough, this heather-clad ridge offers one of the most accessible perspectives on the monastic valley below. While the summit is a modest Tump, the real draw is the dramatic traverse along the 'White Oakwood' ridge, overlooking the deep glacial trough and the dark waters of the Upper Lake.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Doire Bán, meaning 'White Oakwood,' referring to the ancient sessile oak forests that still populate the lower slopes of the Glendalough valley.
• •It is most frequently climbed as part of the Glendalough skyline circuit, usually paired with its higher neighbour Mullacor to the south or accessed via the steep timber steps alongside the Poulanass Waterfall.
• •The cliff-edge path along the northern flank provides a spectacular aerial view of the 6th-century monastic city, including the iconic Round Tower and the ruins of St. Kevin’s Kitchen.
• •Looking west across the glacial divide, you can clearly see the massive plateau of Lugnaquilla, Leinster's highest peak, which dominates the horizon beyond the Lugduff valley.
• •The summit itself is famously understated; after the breathless ascent through the forest, the highest point is essentially a flat patch of grass that requires a keen eye to distinguish from the rest of the ridge.