Cnoc Cruach an Chuilinn [Croaghacullion]

About Cnoc Cruach an Chuilinn [Croaghacullion]

Rising from the rugged peatlands of south-central Donegal, this prominent Marilyn offers a wild, pathless experience. Though modest in height, its relative isolation provides an expansive sense of scale, with views stretching across the Atlantic-battered coastline and toward the jagged profiles of the Bluestack Mountains to the east.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish 'Cnoc Cruach an Chuilinn', which translates as the hill of the holly stack, suggesting that this now-barren moorland may once have held more diverse scrub or woodland.
• •Its status as a Marilyn is significant; with over 150 metres of prominence, it stands as a major landmark in the undulating bogland between Killybegs and the Glenties.
• •From the summit, you can look south across the mouth of Donegal Bay to see the distinct, flat-topped silhouette of Benbulbin in County Sligo, nearly 50 kilometres away.
• •Hikers often combine this peak with the nearby Croaghnageer to the northeast, though the lack of any established path means progress through the deep heather and peat hags is consistently slow.
• •You are far more likely to encounter a stray sheep or a golden plover than another walker, making it an ideal destination for those who find the nearby crowds at Slieve League a little too much to bear.