12 O'Clock Hills — Attraction in County Clare

I took the purple route, 13km long, and it was great! If you don't want to spend so much energy here, definitely take the blue route! You should see the top of the hill, the view is incredible!!!

Origin of the name: The 12 O’Clock Hills, also known as Knockanuarha, got their name from a local tradition of telling time by the position of the sun relative to the hills. It is believed that by standing at a certain point 4 km northwest of Feakle, one could determine midday when the sun was over the peaks. Due to the longitude of the area (8.5° west of Greenwich), this time is adjusted: in winter it is around 12:25, and in summer it is around 13:25, which makes the name of the hills slightly ironic, as they could be called “Twenty-Five Past One Hills” in the summer. 2. Unique viewpoint: The main summit of the hills, 309 meters high, is marked by an Ordnance Survey trigonometrical point and a sundial with a compass. The summit offers panoramic views across County Clare, including West Clare, the Burren and the Shannon Estuary. On a clear day, all the High Mountains of Munster and even the Connemara Mountains can be seen, as well as local landmarks such as Kilkishen village, Loch Callaun and Steele Tower. 3. Heritage and Restoration: The 12 O’Clock Hills project was initiated in 2011 by the local community to create a recreational and heritage area. The project has seen the restoration of features such as Mary Ann’s 1950s stone cottage and the bridge over the River Crag, and the creation of three waymarked routes (red – 5km, blue – 8.5km, purple – 13km). A particular highlight is the family-friendly Fairyland route (3.8km return), which includes a children’s themed area and the Kindness Rocks trail with a focus on...

One of the hidden gems of County Clare in Ireland is 12 O'Clock Hill, a beautiful spot that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Located near the small town of Ennis, the hill is named after the position of the sun at noon, when it casts a shadow that aligns with a standing stone on the summit.

The climb to the top of 12 O'Clock Hill is relatively easy, taking about 30 minutes on a well-marked trail. Along the way, visitors can enjoy stunning views of the rolling hills, verdant farmland, and the River Shannon in the distance.

At the summit, visitors are rewarded with panoramic views that stretch for miles in every direction. On a clear day, it's possible to see as far as the Atlantic coast and the Burren, a unique karst landscape that's one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.

In addition to the natural beauty of 12 O'Clock Hill, there's also a fascinating history associated with the site. The standing stone on the summit is thought to be a Bronze Age monument, and there are several other ancient features on the hill, including a ring fort and a holy well.

Overall, 12 O'Clock Hill is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring County Clare. Whether you're interested in hiking, history, or simply want to enjoy the stunning views, a visit to this beautiful hill is...

There are 3 trails for the hike. I took the purple trail which will take around 3 hrs. Easy to follow the trail, signs are all over the place. There has been lot of improvements done around. There is fairy space created which I found almost at the end of the loop when followed a purple trail. It looks and is kid friendly. I also found lots of wooden trail as well inside the Forest area which gives it a mix of different kinds of hiking spots. I was there on the sunny day and didn’t face any issues, rainy days might not be that great with all the walking on logs but it depends on the trail you follow and shouldn’t be problem if you have hiking shoes. I also found benches to sit at the top with the views, felt a bit modernised but as i said, it’s all mixed. There’s also a buddhist resort while heading back to the parking (Plenty of parking...