Hungry Hill
Mountain Munster mountain in Caha Range, rugged coastline views
Highest peak on the Beara Peninsula, known for long ridge hikes and remote upland terrain; walkers come for full-day climbs and panoramic coastal views across southwest Ireland.
Hungry Hill is a mountain on the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, southwest Ireland, and is the highest peak in the Caha range. Its summit reaches 685 metres above sea level.
The hill presents a long, rugged ridge and offers wide views across the peninsula to the surrounding bays and islands on clear days. Lower slopes contain remains of 19th-century mining activity, which are visible from some approach routes.
Geologically part of the rugged terrain of Beara, the mountain has been a landmark for local communities and visitors interested in hillwalking and coastal panoramas.
Hungry Hill is located on the Beara Peninsula in western County Cork, accessible from local roads and trailheads on the peninsula.
- Elevation: Summit elevation is 685 metres (about 2,247 feet), making it the highest point of the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula.
How to Get to Hungry Hill #
Access is by road from Castletownbere toward Allihies or Lauragh. From Castletownbere it is roughly a 30-45 minute drive to trailheads; parking is in informal laybys. Expect single‑track roads and sheep.
Tips for Visiting Hungry Hill #
- Start the ascent from the Allihies side if weather is good - clearer views and fewer boggy sections than some of the other approaches.
- Bring a detailed Ordnance Survey map or a GPS track: fog rolls in quickly and paths across the Caha ridges are indistinct.
- Read Daphne du Maurier's 1943 novel 'Hungry Hill' after visiting - the book's air of stubborn family grudges is almost as weathered as the summit cairn.
Best Time to Visit Hungry Hill #
Best attempted late spring to early autumn for firm ground and clearer views. Always check local weather and tide conditions for coastal approaches.
Weather & Climate near Hungry Hill #
Hungry Hill's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 16°C. Heavy rainfall (2149 mm/year), wettest in January.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (253 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (194 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
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March
March is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (188 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (125 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (131 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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June
June is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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July
July is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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August
August is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (152 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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September
September is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (176 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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October
October is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 6°C. Heavy rain (222 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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November
November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 4°C. Heavy rain (228 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 3°C. Heavy rain (248 mm), mostly overcast skies, and windy conditions.
