Overview
Knockbane – An Cnoc Bán, ‘the white hill’ – is a 433 m top in the Hollyford Hills of west County Tipperary, near the village of Hollyford. It’s an honest, unshowy hill: a trig pillar, a small summit marker, open ground and quiet. Walkers who tick summits and radio amateurs come here; anyone after a signature view is better served by the Galtees or Clare Glen. If you like a hill to yourself, though, that’s rather the point.
The summit
The high point carries an Ordnance Survey trig pillar and, bolted beside it, a small metal plate for the Summits on the Air amateur-radio programme, stamped ‘EI/G4WSB/P’. There’s no marked trail and no waymarking – you’re crossing open, often boggy ground and navigating yourself, so bring a map (it’s on OS Discovery sheet 66) and a compass or a loaded hiking app. Pick a long day: June, with its late light, gives the most room for error. Underfoot it’s heather, moor grass and peat, and it holds water, so expect wet feet after rain.
Nearby
- Slieve Felim Mountains – The wider upland range to the west, with the long-distance Slieve Felim Way running through forestry and open turf.
- Clare Glen – On the Limerick border, a wooded river valley with a looped path past waterfalls, rapids and red sandstone cliffs. The better half-day if the weather closes in on the tops.
- Devil’s Bit – Northeast near Templemore, with a marked loop to the summit cross.
- Hollyford – The nearest village, with walks along the Multeen River.
Getting there
Hollyford is the nearest village; from there, local roads climb towards the hill. Parking is limited to whatever verge space you can find near the access points, so don’t block gates or narrow lanes. There’s little public transport out here – you’ll want a car. The ground is unlit and there are no facilities on the hill, so carry your own water and food and plan the walk well inside daylight.
Sign the SOTA log if you’re a radio operator; otherwise it’s a short, boggy up-and-down, best saved for a clear June evening.