Keadeen Mountain
Keadeen stands on its own at the south-western edge of the Wicklow Mountains, looking straight across the Glen of Imaal to Lugnaquilla. It's a short walk — around 6.5 km up and back from the forestry near Rathdangan — but it's open mountain with wet ground and no waymarks, finishing at a big summit cairn and trig point at 653 m.
Where this walk goes
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Highlights of this walk
- An isolated summit with one of the best views of Lugnaquilla and the Glen of Imaal
- Short and direct — a lot of mountain for a half-day
- A large summit cairn and trig point, with a Neolithic cursus monument on the western slope
- Quiet ground — this corner of Wicklow sees few walkers
How to walk it
Start from the small forestry car park near Ballinguile, outside Rathdangan. Take the footpath cut into the wood — turn left rather than following the forest road uphill.
After a couple of hundred metres along the edge of the trees you meet a fence; cross it and follow the fence line up onto open hillside. The ground is boggy and wet underfoot most of the year, so this is a boots day. The fence leads you most of the way to the top, where a large robbed-out cairn sits just short of the trig pillar marking the 653 m summit. On a clear day the view is the point — Lugnaquilla and its satellites across the Glen of Imaal, and the pointed cap of Croaghanmoira to the east. Return the way you came. There are no waymarks, so in mist the fence line is your handrail.
Local tips
- Waterproof boots — the hillside holds water
- Follow the fence line up and back; in poor visibility it's your best guide
- Parking is a small forestry car park — room for only a handful of cars, so arrive early
- The Glen of Imaal holds an army firing range — check Defence Forces notices if you extend toward the glen floor
- Nearest village for supplies is Rathdangan; Donard is the larger stop
More walks near Rathdangan
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