Short yes, but steep enough to qualify as #10 in Ireland.

Cycling Short Mountain

Ride 3.4 kilometers gaining 317 meters at 9.4% average grade.

This climb ranks at the bottom of the Top 10 Hardest Irish Bike Climbs list and is not nearly as epic as most of the other Top 10’s.  Yet it is a good and tough climb if you live in or travel to County Kerry at the southwestern tip of Ireland.

The climb averages nearly double figures and boasts a 500 meter segment that averages 15.5%.

Climb Summary by PJAMM’s Brad Butterfield:

You’ll begin down in some very fertile looking farmlands at the bottom of Short mountain. We met a friendly farmer at the base of the climb who’d lived on the land his entire life.. They are really friendly folks out this way. Climbing up from the farmlands, traffic will be light, but likely moving very fast - they tend to drive quite quick out here. The radio tower visible in the distance is your summit point. Once you’ve maneuvered the brutal inclines, you’ll have views of the seemingly endless farmlands of Ireland.

Climb summary by PJAMM’s Tayler Hockett:

The name of this climb is perfect, it’s short, steep, and gives you summit views at the finish. This 3.4 kilometer climb starts on a farm road over a small little bridge. One cool (or maybe not so cool haha) aspect of this road is that you can see the road and the steep pitch from the bottom. Quickly the road pitches up and feels real steep for the first kilometers as you ride past tall rose brush and thick weeds which gives the feeling of being cocooned. Just before it the road opens up to the great views of the valley take note that at about 1.6 kilometers there are several bee hives on the left. From here the ride rolls a bit with less than 10% and interspersed with sections well above 10%. The road seems to be a commuter pass between two towns so there is a decent amount of traffic but fortunately, at the top, there is a parking lot and an old stone barrier where you can sit and enjoy the view. Not necessarily a climb to write home about but if you are riding in the area or can add it on to the day it is well worth it especially if the weather is on your side and it’s clear.

View southwest about 200 meters from the finish at Laharn Viewpoint.

We can see the tip of Castlemaine Harbour at the right center of the photo.

That’s a wrap!!