Kippure Mountain

Address: Kippure (mountain), Wicklow Mountains, Leinster, Ireland

Admission: Free (hiking access).

Kippure is a mountain in the Dublin/Wicklow uplands of eastern Ireland, noted locally for its hiking routes and for the prominent transmission mast on its summit. It is part of the range that frames the south of the Dublin region.

Walkers use marked and informal routes to reach the summit for panoramic views of Dublin city, the Irish Sea and surrounding Wicklow hills; the summit area is dominated by the telecoms installation. The trails vary in length and can be steep in places, attracting day-hikers from the Dublin area.

The mountain has long served as a site for communications infrastructure because of its prominence above the surrounding plain, and its upland terrain has been used recreationally for much of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Kippure sits in the Wicklow Mountains close to the border with County Dublin, within easy driving distance of Dublin city to the north.

• Summit transmitter: A prominent telecommunications mast and transmitter occupy the summit, visible from surrounding lowlands and Dublin on clear days.

Kippure sits on the Dublin/Wicklow uplands about 20-30 km south of Dublin city centre. By car it’s commonly reached from Dublin via the M50 southbound, then take the R115/R116 into the Dublin Mountains and follow local roads (signposted for Glencullen/Bohernabreena) to a car park near the Bohernabreena reservoirs; driving time is typically 30-50 minutes depending on traffic.

Public transport options are limited: take Dublin Bus toward Ballinteer/Knocklyon or to the foothills (services vary) and then expect a walk or hike of several kilometres on forest/trail paths to reach the summit and transmitter - most visitors access Kippure by car and then walk the marked routes.

• Aim for a clear day (summer or late spring) to get the best long-distance views - Kippure is the high point on the Dublin/Wicklow border and summit visibility makes the effort worthwhile.
• Expect to see the distinctive TV/radio mast at the summit; use it as a landmark for navigation and photo composition since the summit area is otherwise exposed and featureless.
• Start early on weekdays to avoid weekend walkers on popular approaches from the Dublin side and to enjoy calmer wind conditions on the exposed summit.