Ballyhoura Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballyhoura Mountains |
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| Irish: An Sliabh Riabhach | |
Black Rock on the Ballyhoura Mountain Range
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Seefin |
| Elevation | 528 m (1,732 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Ballyhoura Mountains
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Republic of Ireland |
| Provinces of Ireland | Munster |
The Ballyhoura Mountains (called An Sliabh Riabhach in Irish) are a cool mountain range in Ireland. They stretch across parts of south-east County Limerick and north-east County Cork. These mountains run for about 6 miles (10 km) from east to west, right on the border between these two counties in central Munster.
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Exploring the Ballyhoura Mountains
The Ballyhoura Mountains are a mix of different natural areas. The southern parts of the hills are mostly covered in thick conifer forests. These are forests filled with trees like pines and firs.
On the northern side, you'll find wide-open areas called heathland and blanket bog. A heathland is a type of natural land with low-growing shrubs. A blanket bog is a wet, spongy area of land covered in peat.
Mountain Peaks
The highest point in the Ballyhoura Mountains is Seefin, which stands at 528 meters (1,702 feet) tall. Not far from Seefin, to the northwest, is Black Rock, which is 516 meters (1,696 feet) high.
About 3 miles (5 km) to the west, on the border of Cork and Limerick, is Carron Mountain, around 440 meters (1,469 feet) tall. Other peaks include Knockea and Knockeennamroanta. There's also a pass called Barnaderg, now known as Redchair, which connects the plains of Limerick and Cork.
Special Plants and Nature
The Ballyhoura Mountains are so special that they have been named a Special Area of Conservation. This means the area is protected because of its important natural habitats and plants.
In the flatter parts of the mountains, you'll find the blanket bog. Here, you can see plants like heather, deergrass, and different types of cottongrass. You might also spot bilberry and crowberry plants.
The wet heath areas are mostly covered in heather, cross-leaved heath, and bilberry. These plants grow alongside many types of mosses. The dry heath areas have even more kinds of plants, including bell heather, green-ribbed sedge, and tormentil.
Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park
One of the most exciting features of the Ballyhoura Mountains is the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Park. It's located near Seefin and Blackrock. This park has the largest network of mountain bike trails in all of Ireland!
The trails offer different levels of difficulty, so there's something for everyone. You can try the moderate 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) Greenwood loop. If you're looking for a bigger challenge, there's the demanding 50-kilometer (31-mile) Castlepook loop.
The closest towns and villages to the bike trails are Ardpatrick, Glenosheen, Ballyorgan, and Kilfinnane. It's a great place for an adventure!
