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Wicklow Area   NE: Bray & Kilmacanogue Subarea
Place count in area: 115, OSI/LPS Maps: 28B, 55, 56, 61, 62, AWW, EW-DM, EW-LG, EW-WE, EW-WS 
Highest place:
Lugnaquilla, 924.7m
Maximum height for area: 924.7 metres,     Maximum prominence for area: 905 metres,

Places in area Wicklow:
Cen: Glendalough North:   Brockagh Mountain 556.9mBrockagh Mountain NW Top 549.5mBrockagh Mountain SE Top 471.7mCamaderry East Top 677.3mCamaderry Mountain 698.6mConavalla 734mTomaneena 682.4m
Cen: Glendalough South:   Carriglineen Mountain 456.6mCullentragh Mountain 510mDerrybawn Mountain 476.1mKirikee Mountain 474.5mLugduff 653.2mLugduff SE Top 638mMullacor 660.7mTrooperstown Hill 430m
N Cen: Tonelagee:   Carrignagunneen 561mFair Mountain 571.2mStoney Top 713.7mTonelagee 815.8mTonelagee E Top 668mTonelagee South-East Top 545.8m
NE: Bray & Kilmacanogue:   Bray Head Hill 238.9mCarrigoona Commons East 242mDowns Hill 372.9mGreat Sugar Loaf 501.2mLittle Sugar Loaf 342.4m
NE: Djouce:   Djouce 725.5mKnockree 342.1mMaulin 570mTonduff 642mTonduff East Top 593mWar Hill 684.8mWhite Hill 631.1m
NE: Fancy:   Ballinafunshoge 480mKanturk 527.4mKnocknacloghoge 532.4mLuggala 593.3mRobber's Pass Hill 508.9mScarr 640mScarr North-West Top 559.8mSleamaine 430m
NE: Vartry:   Ballinacorbeg 336mBallycurry 301mDunranhill 342mMount Kennedy 365.9m
NW: Blessington:   Carrigleitrim 408mLugnagun 446.2mSlieveroe 332mSorrel Hill 599.5m
NW: Mullaghcleevaun:   Black Hill 602.2mCarrigshouk 572.5mCarrigvore 682.4mDuff Hill 720.8mGravale 719mMoanbane 703mMullaghcleevaun 846.7mMullaghcleevaun East Top 796mSilsean 698m
S: Aughrim Hills:   Cushbawn 400mKilleagh 249mMoneyteige North 427mPreban Hill 389m
S: Croaghanmoira:   Ballinacor Mountain 529.3mBallycurragh Hill 536mBallyteige 447mCarrickashane Mountain 508mCroaghanmoira 662.3mCroaghanmoira North Top 579.5mFananierin 426mSlieve Maan 547.8mSlieve Maan North Top 546.1m
S: Croghan Kinsella:   Annagh Hill 454mCroghan Kinsella 606mCroghan Kinsella East Top 562.1mSlievefoore 414m
S: Shillelagh Hills:   Lakeen 357mMonaughrim 206mSeskin 344mStookeen 420m
S: Tinahely Hills:   Ballycumber Hill 429.7mEagle Hill 296mMuskeagh Hill 398.2m
SE: Wicklow South East:   Ballinastraw 284mBallyguile Hill 188mBarranisky 280mCarrick Mountain 381mCollon Hill 238mKilnamanagh Hill 217mWestaston Hill 270m
W: Baltinglass:   Ballyhook Hill 288mBaltinglass Hill 382mCarrig Mountain 571mCarrigeen Hill 298mCloghnagaune 385mCorballis Hill 258mKeadeen Mountain 653mSpinans Hill 409mSpinans Hill SE Top 400mTinoran Hill 312m
W: Cen Lugnaquilla:   Ballineddan Mountain 652.3mBenleagh 689mCamenabologue 758mCamenabologue SE Top 663mCloghernagh 800mCorrigasleggaun 794.6mLugnaquilla 924.7mSlievemaan 759.7m
W: Donard:   Brewel Hill 222mChurch Mountain 544mCorriebracks 531mLobawn 636mSlievecorragh 418mSugarloaf 552mTable Mountain 701.7mTable Mountain West Top 563m

Note: this list of places includes island features such as summits, but not islands as such.
Rating graphic.
Great Sugar Loaf Mountain Ó Cualann A name in Irish Ir. Ó Cualann [OSI], prob. 'youth of Cualu/Cualainn’ [PDT] Wicklow County in Leinster Province, in Arderin List, Quartzite Bedrock

Height: 501.2m OS 1:50k Mapsheet: 56 Grid Reference: O23775 13083
Place visited by 1025 members. Recently by: jjbireland700s, colinpurcell, Macros42, sgalla, JoannaS, djay281, AnthonyJ, DarrenY, ccartwright, oakesave, Muscles1960, KateLeckie, MartMc, ToughSoles, MeabhTiernan
I have visited this place: NO (You need to be a logged-in member to change this.)

Longitude: -6.150522, Latitude: 53.15415 , Easting: 323776, Northing: 213084 Prominence: 216m,  Isolation: 2.2km
ITM: 723697 713114,   GPS IDs, 6 char: GrtSgr, 10 char: GrtSgrLf
Bedrock type: Quartzite, (Bray Head Formation)

Boasting one of the best-known mountain profiles in Ireland, this peak can be seen from as far north as the Mourne Mountains, standing bold of the main Wicklow massif. According to the Yellow Book of Lecan (compiled in 1391), Ae Chualand was the stone upon which the head of Cualu Cetach was placed on Sliabh Chualand in Leinster, after he had been slain by Crimthand. 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 Óe Cualann, as it was written there, both in terms of the interpretation and location. He suggested the meaning 'sheep or ewes of Cualu' (taking óe as plural), due to some imagined resemblance, and identified it with Two Rock Mountain and Three Rock Mountain, an identification which has not won general acceptance. However, although the meaning ‘sheep’ is known for this word in Old Irish, usually written oí, there is good reason to believe that we have something different here. Ó is a rare place-name element, found only in a handful of names such as Gleann Ó (Glenoe, Co. Antrim [DUPN]) and in Mullach an Ó (East Mayo). In this name we are probably dealing with another example of personification of a mountain, or of rocks at its summit. Ó (earlier úa) is most familiar as a prefix in Irish surnames, where it means ‘grandson’ or more generally ‘descendant’. The nominative singular also occurs as aue or óe according to DIL, obviating any need to see this as a plural form. Significantly, there is a cognate Welsh word w, which is treated in dictionaries as a variant of gŵr, simply meaning ‘man’. The image originally evoked by the name Ó Cualann was therefore probably one of a young man, perhaps a noble warrior, keeping watch over the territory of Cualu and its inhabitants, the people called Cualainn. This is all the more convincing when one considers the close parallel offered by Stua Laighean (Mount Leinster), which means “prince/warrior of Leinster / the Lagin. For the English name Sugarloaf, see Sugarloaf Hill in the Knockmealdowns.   Great Sugar Loaf is the 569th highest place in Ireland.

Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/
COMMENTS for Great Sugar Loaf (Ó Cualann) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next page >>  
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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
Picture: The Great Sugar Loaf from the South
 
An Iconic Mountain
Short Summary created by simon3, wicklore  19 Oct 2022
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 starA 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 starB beside the Fitzsimons Park GAA ground which can be reached from Kilmacanogue and the N11.

Another places is from the free public car park in Kilmacanogue near Plucks (not Plucks own) at O24647 14626 starC. You proceed west from here via the R755 and turn left at O24175 14695 starD, initially up a concrete road and then onto open hillside.

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. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/5214/
 
MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
Picture: Snowdon view from the Sugar Loaf.
Snowdon View.
by simon3  28 Dec 2017
Occasionally, through the murky misty air above the Irish Sea there emerges a view of Wales in higher parts of Wicklow or the Dublin Mountains. And so it was on 26th December 2017 that this view of Snowdon 1085, appeared around 150km away.
Usually what you can see from this part of Wicklow is the distinctive shape of Yr Eifl (560m) which is on the Llyn Penisula and is a good bit nearer. Like Snowdon it appears as two summits, the rightmost being higher. However you can tell it apart from Snowdon because it appears steeper and the left peak Yr Eifl N has a visible vertical cliff to the left caused by quarrying. Had Yr Eifl been visible it would appear to the right of Snowdon.

Anyway on this occasion Snowdon was very visible to the naked eye and much enjoyed by the hordes visiting the top. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/19818/
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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
Picture: Djouce from the sea.
 
The wearing of Djouce.
by simon3  28 Apr 2018
Occasionally you hear that the track wear on Djouce is so bad that it can be seen from Wales. Maybe so, but then it is hard to see any part of Ireland from Wales.
I was curious therefore to look at this picture of Djouce from very roughly 10km out of Dublin port.
And yes the east track up Djouce is visible from here at least appearing as a lighter streak from the top towards the Sugar Loaf. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/19909/
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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
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. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/6800/
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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
Picture: Sugarloaf
 
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. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/4678/
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MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Great Sugar Loaf (<i>Ó Cualann</i>) in area Wicklow, Ireland
Picture: John (6) and Peter (4)
CaptainVertigo on Great Sugar Loaf, 2005
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. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/455/comment/1588/
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(End of comment section for Great Sugar Loaf (Ó Cualann).)

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Database of British & Irish Hills
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