The Irish High Point Challenges are a unique set of standalone Irish hillwalking challenges. Each is based on one of the 8 primary sub-lists published on the High Point Ireland website. Together, these sub-lists comprise the complete list of Ireland's 187 major geographical High Points. The 8 personal outdoor adventure challenges can be undertaken at any time. Please note that many of the High Point locations should only be visited by experienced, well-equipped hillwalkers and mountaineers. The objective of each challenge is to visit every High Point on a specific themed sub-list.
The Challenges
The complete list of Ireland's major geographical High Points comprises 187 locations throughout the whole of Ireland. The full list is derived from and includes every location featured on its 8 separate primary sub-lists. We have created a High Point Challenge for each of these sub-lists. Find out more about each challenge via the buttons below. The map further down this page shows all 187 major geographical High Points in Ireland.
Always bring a map and compass
A hardcopy map and compass are the preferred navigational tools used by all competent self-navigators in the mountains and hills. Relying exclusively on a GPS device or phone for navigation is strongly discouraged. The person who follows a dot, crosshairs or a GPX route on a tiny screen is not navigating. They are effectively being led by their device. This involves no skill whatsoever and will only increase that person's reliance on technology. We recommend using hardcopy maps and traditional magnetic compass because:
- their use requires and reinforces an elementary outdoor skill.
- the user is the navigator (this is not the case when using a GPS device, especially one with the day's route loaded in).
- they do not require a power source, therefore have less impact on the environment.
- hillwalking and mountaineering should be about having a digital detox in nature, not squinting at yet another screen.
- satellites, phones, GPS devices and their associated networks and systems are vulnerable to potential outages caused by external factors (e.g. hacking, ransomware, terrorism, solar fluctuations, space junk, etc).
In short, you should always have the relevant hardcopy map and a traditional magnetic compass in your pack when venturing off the beaten track. The convenience of a GPS is not a valid reason to go into the uplands or other wild areas without these two basic essentials.
You can browse all published maps on our dedicated maps page.
