Luggala

Luggala (Irish: Log an Lágh, meaning "hollow of the hill"), also called Fancy Mountain (from Irish Fuinnse, meaning "ash tree"), is a 595 metres (1,952 ft) mountain in the Wicklow Mountains, Ireland. Its cliffs are situated above a lake, Lough Tay, and are a popular location for rock climbing.

Luggala is about 45 kilometres (28 mi) southwest of Dublin.

Luggala Estate

The mountain forms a part of the 25 km² (9.7 sq mi) Luggala Estate (also known as the Guinness Estate), which is owned by wealthy arts patron Garech Browne, a member of the Guinness family. The buildings on the estate, including the luxurious Luggala Lodge (aka "Luggala Castle"), are rented commercially year-round. The estate has been used as the location of some major films, including Zardoz, Braveheart and Excalibur, as well as the historical drama television series Vikings.

Rock climbing

The granite crag on Luggala has been popular with rock climbers ever since the first routes were established by members of the Irish Mountaineering Club in 1949. It is, however, not as popular as Glendalough, despite being of comparable quality and size, and closer to Dublin. The current guidebook, published in 2009, lists 188 routes; grades go up to E5 and lengths up to 160 metres (520 ft), but 60 metres (200 ft) (two pitches) at HVS/5a is fairly typical. The climbing is generally good quality, with excellent friction, but the routes can often follow meandering lines and be hard to find. Protection varies; in accordance with Irish climbing ethics, bolts are not used.