Cloichin

Rising above the rugged Connemara coastline, this heathery Tump offers a short but rewarding scramble through typical western bog and rock. Its position provides an exceptional vantage point for observing the Atlantic swells hitting the Renvyle Peninsula and the dramatic entrance to Ireland’s only true fjord at Killary Harbour.

• •The name is derived from the Irish Cloichín, meaning ‘little stone,’ a reference to the scattered quartzite erratics and fractured rock that characterise its upper slopes.
• •From the 323m summit, hikers gain a clear view across the mouth of Killary Harbour to the massive southern face of Mweelrea, the highest peak in County Mayo.
• •Though technically grouped with the Maumturk Mountains, this hill sits in isolation near Lettergesh Beach, serving as a natural grandstand for watching weather systems roll in over Inishbofin and Inishark islands.
• •Despite its modest elevation, the climb offers a masterclass in navigating Connemara terrain, where what looks like a solid rock step is frequently a well-disguised and very wet peat hag.