
Driving the wild road to Mullaghanish
Ireland, europe
3.5 km
649 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for Mullaghanish! This peak straddling counties Cork and Kerry in southwest Ireland is a must-see. Perched high in the Derrynasaggart range, you'll climb to 649m (2,129ft) on a fully paved, albeit private, road. Keep an eye on your vehicle height, maxing out at 3.5m.
The 3.5 km (2.17 miles) journey is a real leg-burner, hitting gradients of up to 14%! You'll gain a whopping 362 meters in elevation, making for an average gradient of 10.34%. At the top, you'll find a massive TV mast dating back to '62. But the real reward? Jaw-dropping, panoramic views of the Cork and Kerry mountains. Trust me, the views are worth the climb!
Where is it?
Driving the wild road to Mullaghanish is located in Ireland (europe). Coordinates: 53.1649, -8.3258
Road Details
- Country
- Ireland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 3.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 649 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 53.1649, -8.3258
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