A Major Island High Point is any of the thirty-two summits on the official list of Ireland's major geographical High Points which represents the highest point on one of Ireland's thirty major islands. These thirty-two locations appear on the list as thirty entries (the extra two locations result from Inishbofin and Gorumna Island each having two options. The sub-list below was first compiled by Kieron Gribbon and was originally published on 5th December 2015. Being the first High Points list ever to be published for Ireland's islands, the Major Island High Points sub-list is also an original standalone list in its own right. To qualify as a major island, an Island must have an area of at least 4km² and / or have a summit higher than 150m. In the annual All-Ireland Hillwalking Championships, this entire sub-list is worth a total of 90 points. Please note that we have not included Needles Eye (Skellig Michael) and Tearaght Island in this sub-list's points total because access is not permitted to those two High Points.
Special note:
Since the publication of the Major Island High Points sub-list (Ireland's original island High Points list compiled by Kieron Gribbon) on 5th December 2015, MountainViews have created their own version of, what appears to be, an Irish "island" High Points list. This first appeared on their website on 9th May 2017 (a year and a half after the Major Island High Points sub-list was first published). Please note that their list comprises more than 500 "island" High Points, the vast majority of which are merely small patches of rock protruding less than 5m above sea level. Their list is based entirely on research carried out by sea-kayaker and author David Walsh. It is currently unclear how many of these "islands" are submerged at high tide and / or connected to land at low tide (i.e. intermittent islands which present their own dangers). While the MountainViews "island" High Points list may appeal to some watersports and geography enthusiasts, more than 90% of its featured locations are inaccessible to mainstream Highpointeers and the wider land-based outdoor sports community. The only Irish island High Points of any real significance to Highpointeers and the wider land-based outdoor sports community remain to be those which feature on the Major Island High Points sub-list below.
Special note:
Since the publication of the Major Island High Points sub-list (Ireland's original island High Points list compiled by Kieron Gribbon) on 5th December 2015, MountainViews have created their own version of, what appears to be, an Irish "island" High Points list. This first appeared on their website on 9th May 2017 (a year and a half after the Major Island High Points sub-list was first published). Please note that their list comprises more than 500 "island" High Points, the vast majority of which are merely small patches of rock protruding less than 5m above sea level. Their list is based entirely on research carried out by sea-kayaker and author David Walsh. It is currently unclear how many of these "islands" are submerged at high tide and / or connected to land at low tide (i.e. intermittent islands which present their own dangers). While the MountainViews "island" High Points list may appeal to some watersports and geography enthusiasts, more than 90% of its featured locations are inaccessible to mainstream Highpointeers and the wider land-based outdoor sports community. The only Irish island High Points of any real significance to Highpointeers and the wider land-based outdoor sports community remain to be those which feature on the Major Island High Points sub-list below.
Our logging partner
We invite you to log your Major Island High Point location visits with Peakhunter, our official logging partner. Peakhunter is the world's No.1 peak-logging platform (www.peakhunter.com). The Peakhunter app allows you to create a log entry by simply pressing a button on your smartphone while you are physically present at a High Point location. Download the app here.
Find out more about creating Peakhunter log entries...
