Overview
Mullaghcleevaun is Wicklow’s second-highest mountain, and it is a quieter summit than the better-known Wicklow peaks. There’s no clean path to the summit, just blanket bog and a long, exposed ridge. It rises to 849 m (2,785 ft). The Irish name, Mullach Cliabháin, means ‘summit of the cradle’, and it points straight at the mountain’s best feature: the deep hollow scooped out below the top.
The summit and Cleevaun Lough
The cradle in the name is the corrie that holds Cleevaun Lough, at about 686 m (2,251 ft) one of the highest lakes in County Wicklow. The summit above it is a flat, pebble-strewn plateau with a concrete trig pillar and not much else; the reward here is the walking and the view, not a dramatic peak. West, the Blessington Lakes spread out below; east, the ground drops hard into the Glenmacnass valley; and on a clear day you can pick out the Irish Sea and the Dublin hills. Keep well back from the steep corrie rim, and enjoy the lake from a safe distance.
Near it, a memorial plaque remembers three An Óige hikers – Peter Purfield, Joseph O’Gorman and Matthew Porter – who drowned at Clogher Head in 1945. The lough itself is deep, cold and a long way from help; it is not a place for a swim.
Walking routes
Mullaghcleevaun is a hub for several of Wicklow’s high-ridge walks, from half-day outings to long traverses linking it with neighbouring summits such as Tonelagee. These are serious mountain days over boggy, exposed ground, and we do not describe them step by step here. Check access for your chosen approach, plan the whole route on a map, and leave farm entrances and gateways clear.
For a marked outing, use the Wicklow Mountains National Park trail guide and check current notices before setting out.
History and landscape
Classic Wicklow ground: granite, peat hags and deep blanket bog. Geological Survey Ireland records blanket peat and ice-scoured granite on the higher ground. The corrie under the summit is a textbook piece of glacial erosion, gouged out when ice flowed south through these mountains in the last ice age. The whole area lies within Wicklow Mountains National Park, and the 18th-century Old Military Road runs through the foothills to the south. The mountain sends water in two directions: the Glenmacnass River rises on its south-eastern slopes and becomes the Glenmacnass Waterfall downstream, while the King’s River rises here and runs west to the Liffey near Blessington. With a prominence of 374 m (1,227 ft), Mullaghcleevaun clears the bar for a Marilyn, which is why it turns up on so many peak-bagging lists.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 849 m (2,785 ft) |
| Grid reference | O06763 07049 |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | Check access for your chosen approach and read local notices before you set out. |
| Parking | Check local parking carefully, use only legitimate spaces and do not block gates or farm entrances. |
| Public transport | Check current timetables and plan how you will reach the start and get back before relying on a bus. |
| Facilities | None on the mountain. Toilets, water and food are in nearby villages such as Laragh and Glendalough. |
Safety and preparation
The terrain is uneven, with deep peat hags, steep descents and loose stone that turns greasy in the wet. Carry a map, compass and a charged phone, and do not rely on a signal; the summit plateau is featureless and easy to lose in cloud. The relevant map is the OSi Discovery Series sheet 56. Turn back if the weather makes navigation difficult. Waterproof boots, gaiters and layers are sensible, because the weather at this height changes fast. If you bring a dog, follow any local signs and keep it on a lead, especially near the steep edges and the lake.
Nearby
- Glenmacnass Waterfall – a big cascade in the valley to the east.
- Blessington and its lakes – a scenic run after coming off the western slopes.
- Glendalough – the monastic valley, with a visitor centre, cafés and beds.
Come in late spring or early autumn, when the bog is firmer underfoot and the light lasts, and check the mountain forecast before you set off. At 849 m, Mullaghcleevaun makes its own weather.