Slieve Bloom Mountains
Encyclopedia
Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland The Slieve Bloom Mountains (Sliabh Bladhma in Irish
) rise from the central plain of Ireland
to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards. The highest points are Arderin
(527 m) at the southwestern end of the range and Baunreaghcong
(511 m) at the end of the Ridge of Capard
.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains stretch from near Roscrea
in the south west to Rosenallis
in the north west forming a link between County Laois
and County Offaly
. Access to the mountains and the most popular attractions is easiest by taking Exit 15 off the M7 for Mountmellick
and following the R422 for Rosenallis
, Clonaslee
, Cadamstown
, and Kinnitty
. There are 3 routes which cross the mountain. From lonaslee}]here it is very easy to follow the mountain road over 'the Cut' towards Mountrath
. From Kinnitty
take the road from the centre of the village opposite the catholic church past Longford Church to Glendine Gap near Ard Erin the highest point in the mountain. For some splendid views turn left onto the R440 towards Kinnitty
one of the small villages nestled at the foot of the mountains.
Looped walking trails have been developed at 6 trail heads in the Slieve Blooms, Glenbarrow, Clonaslee
, Cadamstown
, Kinnitty
, Glenafelly Forest Car Park and Glen Monicknew. Walking trails are colour coded green easy, blue moderate, and red most difficult. The 84km Slieve Bloom Way colour coded yellow can be accessed from any of these trailheads. In Cadamstown
take time to walk the Silver River Eco Trail.
Glenbarrow waterfalls are located just a few miles from Rosenallis
. Some scenic looped walks will take you to the falls and up onto the Ridge of Capard. There is a significant population of red grouse
in the hills.
The Slieve Bloom, along with the Massif Central
in France, are the oldest mountains in Europe; they were once also the highest at 3,700m. Weathering has reduced them to 527m. On a clear day, one can see the high points of the four ancient provinces of Ireland.
of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, all with a topographic elevation of at least 406 metres (1,332 ft).
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) rise from the central plain of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to a height of 527 metres. While not very high, they are extensive by local standards. The highest points are Arderin
Arderin
Arderin is a mountain on the border between counties Laois and Offaly in Ireland. With a height of 527 metres it is the highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 399th highest summit in Ireland. Uniquely it is the highest point in County Laois and County Offaly.-References:* *...
(527 m) at the southwestern end of the range and Baunreaghcong
Baunreaghcong
Baunreaghcong is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Baunreaghcong stands at a height of 511 metres making it the third highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 440th highest summit in Ireland. It is the second highest mountain in Laois after Arderin which is also in County Offaly, making...
(511 m) at the end of the Ridge of Capard
Ridge of Capard
Ridge of Capard is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Ridge of Capard's summit is at an altitude of 509 metres making it the third highest point in Laois, the sixth highest in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 506th highest summit in Ireland....
.
The Slieve Bloom Mountains stretch from near Roscrea
Roscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
in the south west to Rosenallis
Rosenallis
Rosenallis is a village in north County Laois, Ireland. It is in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road....
in the north west forming a link between County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
and County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
. Access to the mountains and the most popular attractions is easiest by taking Exit 15 off the M7 for Mountmellick
Mountmellick
Other than that its a 15th-century settlement on the narrow Owenass river with an encampment on its banks at Irishtown. Overlooking this valley with its trees and wildlife was a small church called Kilmongan which was closed by the Penal Laws in 1640...
and following the R422 for Rosenallis
Rosenallis
Rosenallis is a village in north County Laois, Ireland. It is in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road....
, Clonaslee
Clonaslee
Clonaslee is a village in north County Laois, Ireland, situated in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road. located some 100 km west of Dublin...
, Cadamstown
Cadamstown
Cadamstown, historically called Ballymacadam , is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies on the R421 regional road, just north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is about 20 km from Tullamore and 6 km from Kinnitty.-Features:...
, and Kinnitty
Kinnitty
Kinnitty is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the...
. There are 3 routes which cross the mountain. From lonaslee}]here it is very easy to follow the mountain road over 'the Cut' towards Mountrath
Mountrath
Mountrath is a small town in County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M7 motorway in 2010, the town lies on the R445 midway between Dublin and Limerick, exactly 96.5 km from both cities.In 2006 it had a population of 1,435...
. From Kinnitty
Kinnitty
Kinnitty is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the...
take the road from the centre of the village opposite the catholic church past Longford Church to Glendine Gap near Ard Erin the highest point in the mountain. For some splendid views turn left onto the R440 towards Kinnitty
Kinnitty
Kinnitty is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the...
one of the small villages nestled at the foot of the mountains.
Looped walking trails have been developed at 6 trail heads in the Slieve Blooms, Glenbarrow, Clonaslee
Clonaslee
Clonaslee is a village in north County Laois, Ireland, situated in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road. located some 100 km west of Dublin...
, Cadamstown
Cadamstown
Cadamstown, historically called Ballymacadam , is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies on the R421 regional road, just north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is about 20 km from Tullamore and 6 km from Kinnitty.-Features:...
, Kinnitty
Kinnitty
Kinnitty is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the...
, Glenafelly Forest Car Park and Glen Monicknew. Walking trails are colour coded green easy, blue moderate, and red most difficult. The 84km Slieve Bloom Way colour coded yellow can be accessed from any of these trailheads. In Cadamstown
Cadamstown
Cadamstown, historically called Ballymacadam , is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies on the R421 regional road, just north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is about 20 km from Tullamore and 6 km from Kinnitty.-Features:...
take time to walk the Silver River Eco Trail.
Glenbarrow waterfalls are located just a few miles from Rosenallis
Rosenallis
Rosenallis is a village in north County Laois, Ireland. It is in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the R422 Mountmellick to Birr road....
. Some scenic looped walks will take you to the falls and up onto the Ridge of Capard. There is a significant population of red grouse
Red grouse
The Red Grouse is a medium sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus...
in the hills.
The Slieve Bloom, along with the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
in France, are the oldest mountains in Europe; they were once also the highest at 3,700m. Weathering has reduced them to 527m. On a clear day, one can see the high points of the four ancient provinces of Ireland.
Highest Points
The following table lists the 10 highest major mountain peaksSummit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, all with a topographic elevation of at least 406 metres (1,332 ft).
| Rank Ranking A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second.... |
Mountain peak Summit (topography) In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation... |
Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arderin Arderin Arderin is a mountain on the border between counties Laois and Offaly in Ireland. With a height of 527 metres it is the highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 399th highest summit in Ireland. Uniquely it is the highest point in County Laois and County Offaly.-References:* *... |
527 m (1,729 ft) |
| 2 | Stillbrook Hill Stillbrook Hill Stillbrook Hill is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. With a height of 514 metres it is the second highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains after Arderin and the 428th highest summit in Ireland. It is the second highest mountain in Offaly.... |
514 m (1,686.4 ft) |
| 3 | Baunreaghcong Baunreaghcong Baunreaghcong is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Baunreaghcong stands at a height of 511 metres making it the third highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 440th highest summit in Ireland. It is the second highest mountain in Laois after Arderin which is also in County Offaly, making... |
511 m (1,676.5 ft) |
| 4 | Wolftrap Mountain Wolftrap Mountain Wolftrap Mountain is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. The mountain is 514 metres high making it the third highest summit in Offaly, the fourth highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 495th highest summit in Ireland. It is the most northerly summit of the Slieve Bloom range.-References:... |
487 m (1,597.8 ft) |
| 5 | Barcam Barcam Barcam is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. The mountain stands at 514 metres high making it the fourth highest mountain in Offaly, the fifth highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 505th highest summit in Ireland.-References:... |
484 m (1,587.9 ft) |
| 6 | Ridge of Capard Ridge of Capard Ridge of Capard is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Ridge of Capard's summit is at an altitude of 509 metres making it the third highest point in Laois, the sixth highest in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 506th highest summit in Ireland.... |
483 m (1,584.6 ft) |
| 7 | Carroll's Hill Carroll's Hill Carroll's Hill is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. The mountain stands at 482 metres high making it the fifth highest mountain in Offaly, the seventh highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 509th highest summit in Ireland.-References:... |
482 m (1,581.4 ft) |
| 8 | Farbreague Farbreague Farbreague is a mountain in Offaly, Ireland. It is a popular walking destination in Offaly. At 430 metres high making it the sixth highest mountain in Offaly, the eighth highest mountain in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 688th highest summit in Ireland.-References:... |
430 m (1,410.8 ft) |
| 9 | Castleconor Castleconor Castleconor is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Castleconor's summit is at an altitude of 407 metres making it the fourth highest point in Laois, the ninth highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 798th highest summit in Ireland.... |
407 m (1,335.3 ft) |
| 10 | Garraunbaun Garraunbaun Garraunbaun is a mountain in Laois, Ireland. Castleconor's summit is at an altitude of 406 metres making it the fifth highest point in Laois, the tenth highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the 802nd highest summit in Ireland.-References:... |
406 m (1,332 ft) |