MountainViews: Info on Great Sugar Loaf Ó Cualann (501m) in area Dublin/Wicklow

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Dublin/Wicklow Area Wicklow Mountains Subarea

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Maximum height for area: 925 metres

Summits in area: 89

OS Map(s): 28B, 49, 50, 55, 56, 61, 62 for all tops

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Great Sugar Loaf Mountain	Wicklow County
Ó Cualann A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. Ó Cualann [OSI], 'lump of Cualu')
Height: 501 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 56 for top
Grid Ref: O23776 13088	Latitude: 53.154190 Longitude: -6.150518
ITM: 723697 713118	Prominence: 216m Isolation: 2.7km
In his pioneering article on the place-names of North Wicklow and South Dublin mentioned in the tale Togail Bruidne Da Derga (JRSAI lxv, 1935), Eoin Mac Néill had some difficulty with the name Ó Cualann, for which he suggested the meaning 'sheep of Cu Great Sugar Loaf is the 461st highest summit in Ireland. Our data has reached 85% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf in area Dublin/Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland

Picture: Mini Croagh Patrick Expand pics.

An Iconic Mountain

Short Summary created by simon3, wicklore 3 Mar 2013 The Great Sugar Loaf is a very distinctive hill that towers above the small village of Kilmacanogue on the N11 Dublin – Wexford road. Conical and pointed, it is the volcano that never was. (Many people believe it is an extinct volcano but it is in fact Cambrian quartzite) But what is important is the fantastic shaped hill that is present now. It appears as a smaller version of Croagh Patrick.

Despite its rock-strewn steep upper slopes, the hill is easily climbed. (Although the final 30 metres ascent require care). The relatively easy ascent, combined with its close proximity to Dublin, means that the Great Sugar Loaf is climbed by thousands of people a year. It is surely one of the most famous hills in Ireland, and it even featured in the opening credits of TV soap Glenroe back in the day! The Sugar Loaf commands fine views, especially across the coast and even the mountains of Wales are easily visible to the naked eye on a clear day.

A car park at 235 119 (Point A) will knock a couple of hundred metres off the ascent. A clear track leads up grassy slopes before contouring around the hill as it rises into the rocky upper slopes. The final rocky scramble might require steadying hands as you haul up a short steep gully. Car park to summit can be walked in about 45 mins on average.

Another route, with less usage, more climbing and more rugged quartzite slopes, starts from the small car park O2436 1410 (Point B) beside the Fitzsimons Park GAA ground which can be reached from Kilmacanogue and the N11.

You will probably meet dozens of folk out walking who haven’t climbed other hills, but for whom the Great Sugar Loaf is a must.

Point A: O235 119

Point B: O2436 1410

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Picture: Sugarloaf Expand pics.

Great Sugarloaf

by Dessie1 25 May 2010 Climbed Sugarloaf for the fifth time I think and it still has to be the coolest thing to do if you have a spare hour or so. Whether it is in snow or bathed in sunshine this little mountain really does give a great sense of fulfillment when summited.I have always gone for the direct approach from the southern side (small carpark just off L1031 I think) but will eventually try other routes when time is more abundant.Well worth a climb.

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A scarred mountain

by paulocon 14 May 2012 Undoubtedly one of Ireland's Iconic mountains and one which always reminds me of Errigal. An impressive looking sight when driving down the N11. I had never climbed it so took advantage of a spare hour when driving down the country on a work-trip. Parked at the car-park on the Southern side of the mountain from which it's a relatively short walk along an obvious track which swings around and up the Western side of the mountain. Unfortunately, a low cloud cover meant that I didn't get to enjoy the views from the summit.

The mountain suffers from it's own popularity with the last section of the climb suffering badly from walker erosion. I'd venture a bet that it's one of Ireland's most climbed mountains.

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Picture: John (6) and Peter (4) Expand pics.

by CaptainVertigo 26 Mar 2005 This was always going to be a very difficult weekend for me, sandwiched between two delicious Navan Hillwalker's outings (Mournes last Sunday -Wicklow next). Poor concentration. Weight gain. Irritability. Loss of libido. Urgency. Frequency. Flatulence. Alopecia. All the usual symptoms. I needed a fix. But I couldn't simply hare off on my own up another great mountain. After all I'm joint head of the family (according to the Constitution). They are entitled to some meaningful contact. Hmmm. Then it came to me. Bring them too! At least all except the eldest who's away. Given that our youngest lads are aged 4 and 6 we needed a mountain that would be accessible and not overly challenging...but with worthy views at the summit. The answer was the Great Sugar Loaf. After a surprisingly easy trip from Meath via the M50 we arrived at the well trodden base. Model planes were buzzing about. Then we had to get past the motorcyclists (who seemed to be aged between 8 and 12). Peter (4) quickly tired on the lower slopes which was exactly what I had hoped for: I carried him up "piggy back" style, loving every moment of the suffering, my mind totally fixed on next week's Navan assault and the need for preparation. When we reached the shoulder we faced a tricky little scramble up a steep stoney path to the summit. I was thrilled when the two little lads insisted on attacking the route like a pair of mountain goats. God bless them...you could see the magnificent Vertigo genes vibrating in their little limbs!! How proud I was as they munched their sambos and slurped their soup at "the top of the world". Now in case you think we're not safety conscious I want to assure you that the little lads were carefully monitored by three "big people" at all times. A great outing. Okay it would have been better if the mountain had been slightly less busy than Grafton Street, and if I could have taken pot shots at the Model Planes and the mad cyclists...and if the mountain wasn't so damaged...but its handy, and its perfect for kids and the views are stunning. So...hey...you can't have it all!!
P.S. Mummy has pointed out that John is aged 6 not 7. I have corrected this error above. Also I have been asked to point out that John climbed the G.Sugar Loaf from base to summit and back without so much as an "are we there yet?" He is a true natural. PPS Mummy points out that the scramble just before the Sugar Loaf's summit could be dangerous.

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North East Face

by vycanismajoris 8 Feb 2012 I have climbed the south face from the car park several times in the past few weeks but decided to try the scramble of the north east face. The mountain is a different beast from this side. Tall, broad and intimidatingly rocky. Managed to get up in 45 minutes with a stop for a sore ankle. There is parking at the Kilmacanogue GAA club (O244 137 (Point C)) and a grassy path at the side that leads to several routes up the mountain. There are grassy trails to the west that snake up the mountain for a gentle hike or the direct approach which has hardly any obvious trails but is covered in loose rocks

Point C: O244 137

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by badulake 11 Aug 2008 Well, this website is really a discovery!
I want to comment how to get to sugarloaf if you do not have a car, actually go hiking is a really though job for us "public-transport people". So taking the bus 145 you stop in Kilmacanogue just near the petrol station, cross the bridge to the other side of the road and walk to the right getting to a roundabout, in the roundabout take the first left and from there the first small street on the right will lead you to the football pitch. At the right side of the pitch there is a very narrow path that gets to the top. I do not know how long does it take to get to the top, because the indications we had where... not too explicit and we got lost a couple of times, but going down through this path took us only 1 hour and a half. The viewings from the top were cool, but not as good as we expected, and there were lots of people on the top (really fresh beacuse they came directly from the carpark...) Anyway we could distinguished in the horizon the coast of Wales, and ir really worth it.

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