Wicklow Mountains National Park, Co Wicklow
Wicklow Mountains National Park, Co Wicklow Courtesy Chris Spierin, Fáilte Ireland/Tourism Ireland

Seefingan

📍 Wicklow & South Dublin, Wicklow

🏛️ Attraction

Last updated: 28 April 2026

Overview

Seefingan (Irish: Suí Fingain, meaning “Fingan’s Seat”) stands at 723 m (2 374 ft), ranking as the 11th highest summit in the Wicklow Mountains, the second‑highest point in South Dublin and the 92nd highest peak in Ireland. The mountain sits at the junction of three ridges – Corrig to the north, Seefin to the southwest and Kippure to the east – and literally straddles the county boundary between Wicklow and Dublin. From its smooth grassy summit you can see the western Wicklow peaks, Mullaghcleevaun, the Poulaphouca Reservoir, the city of Dublin and, on clear days, the Howth peninsula.

History & Archaeology

Seefingan’s name is recorded in 19th‑century surveys as See Finnan and is thought to derive from an ancient personal name “Fingan”, suggesting the hill was once regarded as a seat of a local chieftain. A large megalithic cairn lies a few hundred metres west of the summit; early writers such as William Domville Handcock (1877) described it as a “very large and perfect cairn” that may conceal a passage‑tomb chamber similar to the one on nearby Seefin. The cairn’s size and the presence of a trig point indicate the summit has long been a landmark for both ritual and cartographic purposes.

The cairn is part of a wider network of hill‑top passage tombs that includes Seefin (c. 3 500 BC) and Seehan. These monuments are aligned with the famous sites at Newgrange and Knowth, suggesting a Neolithic landscape designed for visibility across the Dublin‑Wicklow area. Modern archaeological consensus holds that the cairn is a collapsed burial mound; it has never been opened, but its stone mass points to a sophisticated prehistoric construction.

Mythology & Folklore

Local tradition links the name Suí Fingain to the legendary hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The three hill‑top tombs of Seefin, Seefingan and Seehan overlook the Glenasmole valley – a historic hunting ground of the Fianna – and were later imagined as portals to the “Otherworld” in Irish folklore. The inter‑visibility of these monuments suggests they may have marked a sacred or political landscape for Neolithic communities.

Cultural Landscape & Sacred Mountains

The trio of Seefin, Seefingan and Seahan is highlighted by Wicklow County Tourism as a “Peaks & Passage Tombs” corridor. Built around 5 000 years ago, the summit cairns are among the highest‑elevation passage tombs in Ireland, underscoring the importance early farmers placed on visibility and landscape symbolism. The sites are interpreted as part of an extended network of hill‑top monuments that demarcated a sacred territory, a view reinforced by their alignment with Newgrange and Knowth. Contemporary heritage projects such as HeritageHiking treat the three peaks as “holy mountains”, linking the ancient monuments to later folklore about portals to the Otherworld.

Geography & Environment

Seefingan straddles the border of County Wicklow and South Dublin. The eastern slopes give rise to the headwaters of the River Dodder, while the southern flanks drain towards the Liffey Valley and the Poulaphouca Reservoir. The bedrock is fine‑grained granodiorite to granite, typical of the Wicklow range, which contributes to the boggy, heath‑covered ridges that become soft after rain.

Flora & Fauna

The open heath supports heather, bilberry and gorse, while the surrounding forested valleys are home to red and sika deer that often cross the track near Athdown. Birdwatchers can spot meadow pipit, skylark and occasional buzzard on the exposed ridges.

What to See & Do

  • Summit Views – The summit offers uninterrupted 360° panoramas: Dublin city to the north, Kippure to the east, the Liffey Valley and Poulaphouca Reservoir to the south, and the rugged Wicklow peaks to the west.
  • Megalithic Cairn – The cairn near the summit is a striking reminder of Ireland’s Neolithic heritage. While the interior has never been opened, its massive stone heap suggests a collapsed passage‑tomb.
  • Seefin Passage Tomb – A short detour to the lower Seefin (621 m) brings you to a c. 3 500 BC passage tomb whose north‑facing entrance aligns with Newgrange and Knowth.
  • Trig Point – For the map‑lover, the concrete trig pillar marks the exact summit location.
  • Kilbride Rifle Range – The military firing range lies to the left of the final ascent; walkers are advised to keep clear of the fenced area.

Walking Routes

1. Seefingan via Seefin Passage Tomb (8.2 km)

Distance: 8.2 km • Time: ~2.5 h • Gain: 460 m • Difficulty: Moderate – boggy sections.

  • Start at the Athdown forestry gate (free parking, limited spaces).
  • Follow the marked forest track to the open ridge, ascend to the Seefin passage tomb, then cross the boggy valley to Seefingan’s summit.
  • Return the same way, or take the short forest shortcut after Seefin.

2. Kilbride Loop (5.7 km) – a quicker option

Distance: 5.7 km • Time: ~1 h 45 min • Gain: 371 m • Difficulty: Difficult (steep, boggy).

  • Begins and ends at the Kilbride car‑park (small free car‑park on the R115, lay‑by at the southwestern corner of the Kilbride Rifle Range).
  • The loop follows the ridge north‑west to the cairn, then returns via the same track. This route is popular with local walkers and is listed on Hiiker, where it holds a 4.53‑star rating from 34 reviewers.

3. Seefin‑Seefingan‑Kippure Loop (21 km)

Distance: 21 km • Time: ~5 h • Gain: 614 m • Difficulty: Moderate‑to‑Strenuous.

  • Starts at the Kippure Estate gate, traverses heavy forest, follows the Athdown Brook, climbs Seefin, then Seefingan and finishes on Kippure’s summit before descending towards the Sally Gap. The route is described on ActiveME and is favoured by walking clubs.

Practical Information

Access & Parking

  • Athdown trailhead – Free, limited parking beside the forestry maintenance road. The gate is usually open; check local signs for any temporary closures.
  • Kilbride car‑park – Small free car‑park on the R115, located in a lay‑by at the southwestern corner of the Kilbride Rifle Range. Parking is free but spaces are limited; the area can be closed when live‑fire exercises are in progress – red flags indicate an active range.
  • No public transport reaches the trailheads; a private car or a guided walk is required.
  • Guided day trips are offered by Hilltoptreks (≈ €25 per person, pick‑up in Dublin).
  • OSI Discovery map 56 and the 1:50 000 series cover the area; grid reference O086 67 169 80 marks the summit.
  • The routes are plotted on AllTrails, Hiiker and the Irish Peaks guidebook. GPX files are available from ActiveME and Hiiker for GPS‑enabled walkers.
  • A handheld GPS or a printed OS map is advisable in poor visibility.

Seasonal Advice & Safety

  • The boggy ridges are most manageable from late spring to early autumn. After heavy rain the ground can become very soft; winter crossings are not recommended unless the bog is frozen.
  • The Irish Times notes a Föhn effect on the leeward side of the range, often giving clearer, warmer conditions on the southeast slopes in late autumn – a useful tip for planning a dry walk.
  • Winter Walking Tips – British & Irish Walks highlights that the massive cairns can reach up to 24 m in diameter and that the frozen bog in deep winter makes the terrain more stable. However, walkers should still carry warm clothing, be prepared for sudden weather changes and respect any live‑fire warnings at Kilbride.
  • Keep to the marked paths and obey signage near the Kilbride rifle range.
  • Weather can change rapidly; carry waterproof clothing, warm layers and enough water.

Fees & Facilities

  • No admission charge; the mountain is free to access.
  • No permanent facilities on the summit – bring your own food and water.

Conservation & Access

Seefingan lies within the Wicklow Mountains National Park, which is managed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS). The NPWS management plan encourages responsible access, urges walkers to stay on established tracks to protect the fragile peatland, and highlights the importance of avoiding the fenced Kilbride military area during live‑fire exercises.

Nearby Attractions

  • Blessington Lakes – The glacial lakes lie south of the mountain and are a popular spot for fishing and waterside walks. See Blessington and its Lakes.
  • Kippure – The neighbouring peak (757 m) offers a communication mast and further city views.
  • Liffey Valley – Follow the River Liffey downstream for a quieter riverside walk (River Liffey).

Enjoy the blend of natural beauty, ancient stonework and sweeping cityscapes that make Seefingan a distinctive highlight of the Wicklow‑Dublin border landscape.