Great Sugar Loaf

Not to be confused with Sugarloaf, West Wicklow nor other hills named 'Sugar Loaf'

Great Sugar Loaf
County Wicklow
The Great Sugar Loaf, from the west
Range:	Wicklow Mountains
Summit:	1,644 feet O237130 53°9’18"N, 6°9’0"W

The Great Sugar Loaf is a mountain in east County Wicklow in Ireland.

This hill is also known as the Big Sugar Loaf and often as simply the Sugar Loaf,and in Gaelic is named Ó Cualann or Beannach Mhór or, anciently, Sliabh na Gealta.)

Geography

The mountain is located between Delgany and Kilmacanogue, and just to the north of the Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve. The smaller Little Sugar Loaf lies to the east (on the other side of the N11 road.

Though only 1,644 feet high, the Great Sugar Loaf's isolation from other hills, steep slopes and volcanic appearance makes it stand out in the landscape. Due to its height relative to the surrounding landscape, the hill qualifies as a 'Marilyn'.

Geology

The Great Sugar Loaf is composed of Cambrian quartzite, in contrast to the rounded mountains to the west, which are made of Devonian granite. Popularly mistaken for a volcano, it is in fact an erosion-resistant metamorphosed sedimentary deposit from the deep sea.

Gallery

• 
  The rocky, steep slopes of the Great Sugar Loaf
• 
  The Little Sugar Loaf from the summit of the Great Sugar Loaf
• 
  Sunrise over the Great Sugar Loaf from Glencullen
• 
  The Great Sugar Loaf from Powerscourt Estate
• 
  From the top of Great Sugar Loaf to the sea

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Great Sugar Loaf)