Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick — the Reek — is Ireland's holy mountain, climbed by pilgrims for over 1,500 years and by some 25,000 people on Reek Sunday alone each July. The traditional route from Murrisk climbs past the statue of St. Patrick to the shoulder, then tackles the famously steep, loose scree cone to the summit chapel at 764m.

The view over the drowned drumlins of Clew Bay — 'a island for every day of the year' — is unforgettable. The scree demands proper footwear and care, especially in descent; a stick (available at the base) genuinely helps.