Sugarloaf Hill is a v steep roadside hill in the middle of the Knockmealdown range. It lies on the Tipp-Waterford border and provides extensive views of both these counties incl. the Golden Vale, the Comeraghs and the Galtees. It’s quite often met twice in the one day by people looking to summit K’mealdown Mt. itself but can also be summited as part of a circuit.

W. Park in Bay lough carpark S03047 09985 A, cross the road and follow the steep rocky track, keeping the stone wall to your left to the top of the S’loaf. 45min+

N. Start at the Vee S04283 11848 B, where there is lots of room to park safely by the roadside and head up the rough, often boggy track past the Grubb monument (large stone cairn by the roadside) to the summit. Alternatively, you can zigzag up the steep spur as per track/3873. 1hr 15min+

N. A less arduous ascent involves walking to the sharp apex of the Vee itself and following the Munster way (signposted as St. Declan’s way here) down into Glenmoylan. Do not cross the stream but follow the path to the right at S04605 11825 C going up the glen almost as far as where the non-existent Lough Moylan is shown on OS maps, head up the rocky zig-zag path to the col between the S’loaf and K’mealdown. Cross the col to find the wall and head W to the Sugarloaf. 1.5hrs+

Routes from the S will come via K’mealdown Mt. so best view that page for those routres.

Notable tracks incl. track/2869, circular track/3873, linear track/3480 and the lengthy track/2772. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/170/comment/4930/

Parked at the car park marked at The Gap, and headed straight up Sugarloaf Hill. It's a bit of a slog up, and unfortunately parts of the track are showing signs of erosion from walkers. However, as you lift your head on the inevitable stops to catch your breath, the view as you get higher is one of the better ones. It should be possible to make the summit in 40 mins from the car park. Pic shows the view across The Gap to Knocknalougha and Knockshanahullion. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/170/comment/2526/

2nd time on Sugarloaf and got the views this time! Climbed on 14/09/2011 as the third top of a short Horseshoe walk on the Knockmealdowns. Crossed from Knockmoylan along superb walking ground. Superb views of the Golden Vale and the Galtees from the summit cairn. Descent down to the Gap is over some very steep and eroded ground so care is required. Done a write-up which is at: http://climbingirelandsmountains.blogspot.com/2011/09/evening-in-knocmealdowns.html should anyone be interested. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/170/comment/6538/

Looking back on the Sugarloaf along by the county wall towards Knockmoylan.
Knockaunabulloga (overlooking the Vee and Petty Coat Looses favorite hide out Beal Loch) is on the left of photo.An old recitation I can remember my grandfather had said her fist was so big she could crush a man with the weight of it until "Father Power to the Red Sea drove her and gave her a thimble to empty the sea". Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/170/comment/1217/

Bank Holiday Monday last was my first trip to the Knockmealdowns. I decided to start with Sugarloaf Hill and make my way across to Knockmealdown and beyond. I am unfamiliar with this area, but using map no.74 I found the carpark on the R668 at S03047 09985 A. Across the road from the carpark a track heads directly up Sugarloaf Hill. This is very steep in places and a punch in the belly after a nearly three hour car journey!
I met an elderly man running down and I proudly told him that I was struggling but making progress. He congratulated me on my ‘fitness’ before informing me he had run up this way earlier, had run across the range and was on his way back. My Hour of Shame! My photo shows the carpark from near the summit of Sugarloaf Hill and gives a sense of the height gained in such a short distance.
The summit arrived surprisingly quickly after about 45 minutes. I was lucky with the weather and had great views in all directions. I spent some time with my maps identifying what I could see in the distance (the Galtees, the Comeraghs) as well as the nearer mountains of the Knockmealdowns themselves.
I then continued on my traverse SW towards Knockmoylan. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/170/comment/3261/