Knockalongy [Cnoc na Loinge]

About Knockalongy [Cnoc na Loinge]

Rising as the highest point of the Ox Mountains in County Sligo, this Marilyn offers a rugged, peat-covered ascent. The summit is marked by a cairn and provides a commandingly clear perspective over Ballysadare Bay and the distinct flat-topped profile of Benbulbin to the north. It is a quiet, atmospheric climb.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish Cnoc na Loinge, meaning 'Hill of the Ship', likely referring to the summit's profile when viewed by mariners from the Atlantic.
• •Knockalongy is the highest summit in the Ox Mountains (Sliabh Gamh), an ancient range of metamorphic rock that predates the surrounding limestone plateaus of the Sligo landscape.
• •On a clear day, the view from the summit extends beyond the immediate coastline to include the sprawling waters of Lough Gill to the east and the distant Nephin Beg range to the south.
• •The terrain is dominated by thick Atlantic blanket bog, which remains exceptionally soft and saturated throughout the year, even during dry spells.
• •Given the legendary depth of the peat on the lower slopes, the 'ship' in its name might occasionally feel more like a necessary mode of transport than a topographical description.