Cnoc na Péiste

File:The Big Gun and Cnoc na Peiste (Knocknapeasta).jpg

Cnoc na Péiste is the highest point in the Eastern Reeks section of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range, which consists of a long narrow ridge that takes in several summits before ending at Cruach Mhór {{convert|932|m|ft}} and descending into the Gap of Dunloe, to the Head of the Gap, only to rise up again towards the Purple Mountain Group.{{Cite web |url=http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,483525,584265,4 |title=Ordnance Survey Ireland - Online map viewer |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829114800/http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,483525,584265,4 |archive-date=2012-08-29 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |title=Discovery Series (1:50000) Map 78 |date=September 2000 |publisher=Ordnance Survey Ireland |isbn=1-901496-83-X}}{{cite book | last1 = Ryan | first1 = Jim | title = Carrauntoohil and MacGillycuddy's Reeks: A Walking Guide to Ireland's Highest Mountains | publisher = Collins Press | isbn = 978-1905172337 | year = 2006 }}

To the southwest of Cnoc na Péiste is the peak of Maolán Buí ({{convert|973|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and a generally flat grassy ridge to the col at the Devil's Ladder.{{cite book |last=Dillon |first=Paddy |title=Exploring the South of Ireland |publisher=Ward Lock |isbn=0-7063-7566-1 |year=1998}} To the northeast is the narrow sharp rocky arête that joins with The Big Gun ({{convert|939|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and Cruach Mhór ({{convert|932|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}), which marks the end of the eastern ridge of the Reeks.

Between Cnoc na Péiste and The Big Gun are two small lakes—Loch Coimín Piast (anglicised Lough Cummeenapeasta) and Lough Googh — one on either side of the ridge. A stream called Glasheencummeennapeasta flows northwards from Lough Cummeenapeasta into Hag's Glen, to join the Gaddagh River. On the other side of the ridge, a stream flows southwards from Lough Googh into the Derrycarna River.

Because of its positioning, Cnoc na Péiste is usually climbed as part of a horseshoe of the eastern section of the Reeks, starting from the Hag's Glen, and taking in Maolan Bui and The Big Gun,{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/walks-the-big-gun-is-a-blast-on-the-reeks-ridge-co-kerry-1.2237383|title=Walks: The Big Gun is a blast on the Reeks Ridge, Co Kerry|publisher=Irish Times|first=John|last=O'Dwyer|date=6 June 2015|quote=Intimidating looking pinnacles now bar the way to the Big Gun, but generally the handholds are sound and surprisingly quickly you will be standing on the tiny summit. Regarded as the most difficult to reach of Ireland’s major mountaintops, it offers the comforting thought that the crux of the route is now behind.}} or as part of the even longer MacGillycuddy's Reeks Ridge Walk.{{cite web|url=https://www.hiddenirelandtours.com/day-excursions/day-walks-and-hikes/corran-tuathail-and-the-mcgillycuddy-reeks/|title=The Ridge of the Reeks|publisher=Hidden Ireland Tours|first=Con|last=Moriarty|date=2018|quote=Simply, the finest mountain traverse in Ireland with 7 summits over 3000 ft. From Kate Kearney’s Cottage, in the Gap of Dunloe, to Doire na Féinne and Loch a’ Chúis}}

It is the 231st-highest mountain in Britain and Ireland on the Simm classification. Cnoc na Péiste is regarded by the Scottish Mountaineering Club ("SMC") as one of 34 Furths, which is a mountain above {{convert|3000|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} in elevation, and meets the other SMC criteria for a Munro (e.g. "sufficient separation"), but which is outside of (or furth) Scotland;[http://www.smc.org.uk/Hillwalking/HillKeyFacts.php Mountains – Key Facts. The Munros, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds & Furths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204002706/http://www.smc.org.uk/Hillwalking/HillKeyFacts.php |date=2012-12-04 }} at www.smc.org.uk. Accessed on 5 Feb 2013. which is why Knocknapeasta is sometimes referred to as one of the 13 Irish Munros.{{cite web|url=https://www.smc.org.uk/hills/hill-lists#furths|title=Hill Lists: Furths|quote=The list of peaks of 3000ft or more within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland outside (furth) of Scotland. There are currently 34 Furths.|publisher=Scottish Mountaineering Club|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-date=5 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005153432/https://www.smc.org.uk/hills/hill-lists#furths|url-status=dead}}

File:Panamora of Cnoc na Peiste and Loch Cummeenapeasta.jpg

Cnoc na Péiste's prominence qualifies it to meet the British Isles Marilyn classification, being the only other 3,000 foot Reek alongside Carrauntoohil to meet the 150 metre Marilyn prominence threshold. Cnoc na Péiste exceeds the P600 prominence threshold of {{convert|600|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, which classes it as a "Major" mountain.{{cite web|url=http://www.hills-database.co.uk/downloads.html|title=The Database of British and Irish Hills|date=2018|first1=Chris|last1=Cocker|first2=Graham|last2=Jackson|publisher=Database of British and Irish Hills}} Cnoc na Péiste also meets the Arderin, Simm and Hewitt classifications. Knocknapeasta ranks as the second-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the prominence threshold is over 100 metres.{{cite web|url=https://mountainviews.ie/lists/highest/|title=Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m|publisher=MountainViews Online Database|date=September 2018}}Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, {{ISBN|978-1-84889-164-7}}

At about 7 am on 17 December 1943, during World War II, a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) plane crashed into the northerly face of Cnoc na Péiste.[http://homepage.eircom.net/~wrgi/c47crash.html Warplane Research Group of Ireland] The plane was a Douglas C-47 or Dakota (serial number 43-30719) with five crewmen aboard. It struck the mountain just above Lough Cummeenapeasta at an altitude of about 2,000 ft—killing all five passengers. The Gardaí were not alerted to the crash until 3 February 1944, and the following day an Irish Army detachment was sent to recover the bodies. Pieces of the aircraft can still be seen on the mountainside, and in the lake below (a rope is tied to a piece of the wreckage in the water).{{cite web|url=https://www.kerryclimbing.ie/1943-crash-of-usaaf-dakota-on-cnoc-na-peiste/|title=1943 Crash of USAAF Dakoka into Cnoc an Peiste|publisher=KerryClimbing.ie|quote= Blue arrow indicates the location of a blue rope which is tied to the wing in the water (and to a rock on the other end). No use pulling it: the wing is too heavy. The red arrow shows the location of a memorial plate. The plane crashed into the mountain 500 feet above this plate|date=2018}} A plaque was placed at the shore of the lake to commemorate the victims.

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• Lists of mountains in Ireland
• List of mountains of the British Isles by height
• List of Furth mountains in the British Isles
• List of Marilyns in the British Isles

{{reflist}}

• [https://mountainviews.ie/summit/4/ MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website], Knocknapeasta
• [https://mountainviews.ie/mv/irl150setup.htm MountainViews: Irish Online Mountain Database]
• [http://www.hills-database.co.uk/downloads.html The Database of British and Irish Hills ], the largest database of British Isles mountains ("DoBIH")
• [http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/ Hill Bagging UK & Ireland], the searchable interface for the DoBIH
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120829114800/http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0 Ordnance Survey Ireland ("OSI") Online Map Viewer]
• [http://www.logainm.ie/ Logainm: Placenames Database of Ireland]

{{Mountains of Great Britain and Ireland|}}

{{Mountains and hills of Munster}}

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Category:Marilyns of Ireland

Category:Hewitts of Ireland

Category:Mountains and hills of County Kerry

Category:Furths

Category:Mountains under 1000 metres

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Ireland