Republic of Ireland
Knockbrack
458M
1503FT
About Knockbrack
Situated on the eastern reaches of the Dingle Peninsula, this 458-metre hill offers a quieter alternative to the more frequented peaks of the Slieve Mish range. Its rugged, heathery slopes provide an honest toil for walkers seeking a sense of isolation and expansive vistas across the waters of Castlemaine Harbour to the south.
Key Statistics
Find It
OS Grid Reference
Q702050
Latitude
52.1825°N
Longitude
9.8981°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is an anglicisation of the Irish An Cnoc Breac, meaning 'the speckled hill.' This likely describes the mottled appearance of the terrain, where patches of dark heather and grey outcropping rock create a patchwork effect on the upper slopes.
- •Walkers often approach from the minor roads north of Anascaul, using the hill as a vantage point to survey the route toward the more imposing Croaghskearda and the glaciated valley containing Loch Anascaul.
- •On a clear day, the summit provides an exceptional perspective of the long sand-spit of Inch Beach reaching into the bay, framed by the distant profile of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks across the water to the south.
- •Being exactly 42 metres short of the 500-metre mark used by some to define an Irish mountain, Knockbrack sits in that humble category of hills that are just high enough to be an honest climb, but just low enough to ensure you'll have the summit to yourself.
