Overview
Kippure rises to 757 m (2,484 ft) on the Dublin–Wicklow boundary, and is usually described as the highest point in County Dublin. Geological Survey Ireland describes the mountain and its upland setting. You can pick it out from half the city by the mast on top, a broadcasting site that RTÉ dates to 1961. Two corrie lakes, Lough Bray Upper and Lower, sit in the hollow to the north-east, and the boggy plateau feeds the headwaters of both the Liffey and the Dodder.
Be honest with yourself about the top before you go: the summit is a fenced compound around a mast, and it is an anticlimax. The reward is the open bog and upland scenery around it. Stay outside the fenced facilities, and choose a marked trail rather than heading for the compound.
The broadcast mast
The name Kippure is a transliteration of the local pronunciation, usually linked to the Irish ciop (stump) and iúr (yew). Its height is what drew the broadcasters. In the mid-1950s Radio Éireann surveyed the summit for a VHF FM transmitter; an access road went in at the end of the decade, and the mast followed. Regular television began on 31 December 1961 on the old 405-line system, moving to 625 lines in 1962 and FM stereo in 1969. Newer UHF sites have since taken over much of the national load, but the mast still carries Saorview digital TV and RTÉ FM. The compound is fenced and closed to the public, and the access road is a service road for the site.
Walking the mountain
The Old Military Road passes below Kippure. Keep entrances and service roads clear, and stay outside fenced facilities. For a marked walk, use the national park’s published trails and check conditions before setting out.
The plateau is exposed and turns cold and windy fast. Bring a warm layer and proper boots, and carry a map or offline GPS: the open ground is not signposted and the peaty ground is notoriously boggy. Keep an eye out for Sika deer, Irish hares and red grouse in the heather.
Kippure Adventure Centre
A short drive away at Manor Kilbride, near Blessington, the Kippure Adventure Centre is a purpose-built outdoor base. It offers a range of outdoor activities and takes group and family bookings. Check the Discover Ireland listing for current activities and booking details.
Nearby
Blessington sits on the lakes to the west, good for a boat trip or a bite before the hill. Avondale Forest Park, the Parnell estate, is a longer run south for woodland walks, and the Avonmore River threads the valley with quiet riverside paths.
Getting there
The easiest approach is by car along the Old Military Road (R115), the route built through these mountains between 1801 and 1809. This page does not promise parking at any point on the road, so use only signed car parks and never block gates or entrances.
Public transport is thin. The nearest regular bus service is to Blessington (check current Dublin Bus timetables), and from there you are looking at a taxi or a long uphill walk to reach the mountain roads.