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Djouce
Djouce (l) and White Hill (r). Note Djouce's boardwalk path on White Hill
Highest point
Elevation	725 m (2,379 ft)
Prominence	200 m (660 ft)
Listing	100 Highest Irish Mountains, Marilyn, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam
Coordinates	53°07′51″N 6°14′26″W / 53.13083°N 6.24056°W / 53.13083; -6.24056
Naming
Native name	Dioghais (Irish)
English translation	'Fortified height'
Pronunciation	English: /ˈdʒaʊs/ JOWSS Irish: [ˈdʲəuʃ]
Geography
DjouceLocation in Ireland
Location	County Wicklow, Ireland
Parent range	Wicklow Mountains
OSI/OSNI grid	O1785810360
Topo map	OSi Discovery 56
Geology
Mountain type(s)	Dark blue-grey slate, phyllite & schist Bedrock
Climbing
Easiest route	Wicklow Way, from the south (via White Hill / J.B. Malone memorial), or east (via Maulin), on the boarded mountain path

Djouce (Irish: Dioghais, meaning 'fortified height') at 725 metres (2,379 ft), is the 74th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 91st–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. Djouce is situated in the northeastern section of the Wicklow Mountains, and dominates the views of the Wicklow Mountains from Roundwood to Newtownmountkennedy. Djouce is one of a few Irish mountains for which the Irish Office of Public Works (OPW) maintain a boarded mountain trail, using railway sleepers, from its base to a point close to its summit; making the mountain even more accessible to the public, but while also protecting the underlying bog and soil from human erosion. Djouce is popular with hill walkers, and it lies along the 131-kilometre Wicklow Way; on its southern slopes at a scenic viewpoint is the J.B. Malone memorial stone, dedicated to the creator of the Wicklow Way.

Naming

According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, Djouce is sometimes referred to Dowse in historical sources. Tempan notes that the old Irish word for "dígas" is high or lofty, but that while a "Sliab Digsa" is mentioned in the Metrical Dindshenchas, the second word is interpreted as a woman's name; potentially showing the meaning of "dígas" was unclear even at the time of the Metrical Dindshenchas (12th-century). The OSI Map uses the term Djouce Mountain.

Geography

The River Dargle rises on the northern flank of the mountain, close to the source of the River Liffey in the Featherbeds; they rise either side of the catchment boundary, the Liffey flowing west and the Dargle flowing east. Powerscourt Waterfall, one of the highest waterfall in Ireland, lies on its eastern slope.

Djouce overlooks to the west the highlands around the Sally Gap; to the east the Roundwood / Calary Bog plateau. It also overlooks the corrie lake of Lough Tay to the southwest. It is bounded to the west by the R115; to the south by the R759 and to the west by the R755.

Its southern and eastern flanks are heavily forested, up to and above the 2,000 feet contour, mainly with Sitka spruce plantations. As these trees are clear-felled (when they mature), a policy of the reinstatement of native tree species is being pursued, either through planting or natural regeneration.

Djouce's southern shoulder is called White Hill 630 metres (2,070 ft), and to the north of Djouce, across a small saddle is War Hill 686 metres (2,251 ft)

Djouce's prominence of 200 metres (660 ft) qualifies it as a Marilyn, and it also ranks it as the 42nd-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold is 100 metres.

Hill walking

Djouce is a popular destination for hillwalkers due to its accessibility and views offered.

The main route to the summit of Djouce is via the Boardwalk path that was created by the OPW in 1997–1999 using old railway sleepers, and since upgraded, to protect the ground and bog from human erosion. This route starts from the Ballinastoe Wood car-park, or the adjacent J.B. Malone car-park (off the R759 road). The first objective is the scenic point at the J.B. Malone memorial stone which overlooks Lough Tay with views across to Luggala (or Fancy Mountain). The boarded path then rises up to White Hill, before taking a ninety-degree turn northwards to the summit slopes of Djouce. At this point, the boarded path takes another ninety-degree turn eastwards along the Wicklow way (following this path leads to Powerscourt Waterfall and Enniskerry, alternative starting points for Djouce), however, climbers on Djouce leave the boardwalk to take a stone and gravel path to the summit. The route from the car-park and back is 7-kilometres and can be completed without special hiking shoes and requires minimal navigational skills (due to the existence of the paths throughout the route).

Alternative versions aim to create a "loop route" by avoiding the direct return to the boarded path on the descent of Djouce, and instead, walking over the bogland to get to forest paths in Ballinastoe Wood that return to the car-parks; other routes expand on this "loop route" by also taking in War Hill 686 metres (2,251 ft) to the north of Djouce to create a longer 15-kilometre "loop-route".

Teresa Wall vs NPWS (2016)

The future of boarded mountain paths and trails in Ireland was put in doubt when a climber, Teresa Wall, successfully sued the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in the Circuit Court for Euro 40,000 in 2016 for an injury sustained in on the Djouce boarded walk (she required seven stitches after tripping on the boardwalk and cutting her knee near the J.B. Malone memorial stone); however, her award was overturned in February 2017 following a High Court appeal by the NPWS, which rejected her arguments that a "trip hazard" is the same whatever the location.

1946 Air crash

On 12 August 1946, a Junkers Ju 52/3m, carrying a group of 21 girl guides on a French government-funded trip to meet Irish girl guides, crashed into the upper south-western slopes of Djouce mountain in very poor weather. The crash completely ripped the engines from the plane, and thus the fuselage did not catch fire; all of the 27 passengers on board survived the crash, although some had severe injuries.

Bibliography

Climbing

• Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Dublin & Wicklow: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892019.
• Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.
• MountainViews Online Database (Simon Stewart) (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
• Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.

Other

• Suzanne Barnes (2005). When Our Plane Hit the Mountain: A True Story. New Island. ISBN 978-1904301738.

Gallery

• Western slopes
• Djouce from southeast
• Trig. point on summit
• Northern slopes
• Boardwalk on White Hill

See also

• Wicklow Way
• Wicklow Mountains
• Lists of mountains in Ireland
• List of mountains of the British Isles by height
• List of Marilyns in the British Isles
• List of Hewitt mountains in England, Wales and Ireland

Notes

1. The MountainViews database of Irish climbs, noted that Djouce as the fourth most logged summit in 2015 after Carrauntoohil, Lugnaquilla and Slieve Donard.

References

1. ^ "Djouce". MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
2. ^ Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
3. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m". MountainViews Online Database.
4. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m". MountainViews Online Database.
5. ^ Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7
6. ^ MountainViews Online Database (Simon Stewart) (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
7. ^ Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Dublin & Wicklow: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892019.
8. ^ Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102. Walk 1:White Hill, Djouce Mountain, War Hill
9. "Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m". MountainViews Online Database. September 2018.
10. "Djouce 725m". MountainViews. Because of its attractions it is in 2015 the fourth most logged summit on MountainViews (after Carrauntoohil, Lugnaquillia and Slieve Donard).
11. ^ Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118. Route 60: Djouce and War Hill
12. ^ "Lough Tay to White hill to Djouce". Viewranger. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
13. ^ "Wicklow Way Map: Djouce Mountain" (PDF). VisitWicklow Tourism. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
14. "Damages award to hillwalker who tripped on Wicklow Way is overturned". Irish Times. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2019. In a significant judgment concerning the nature of the duty of care of landowners to hillwalkers, Mr Justice Michael White found contributory negligence by Teresa Wall in relation to her fall. He rejected her arguments that a trip hazard is the same whatever the location.
15. Mary Carolan (10 March 2017). "Hill-walker stripped of €40,000 award faces legal bill". Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2019. Ms Wall, of Rathingle Cottages, Swords, claimed she tripped and fell after her foot snagged in a hole on a railway sleeper that was part of a boardwalk near the JB Malone memorial on the Sally Gap to Djouce trail on August 6th, 2013.
16. Aodhan O'Faolain (17 February 2017). "Court overturns €40k damages award to hillwalker who tripped on Wicklow Way". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
17. ^ Jane O'Faherty (8 August 2016). "How French Girl Guides miraculously survived after mountainside plane crash". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
18. "12 August 1946: Junkers Ju-52/3m". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
19. Suzanne Barnes (2005). When Our Plane Hit the Mountain: A True Story Paperback. New Island. ISBN 978-1904301738.

External links

• Wicklow Way Map: Stage 2 Djouce Mountain Archived 8 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, VisitWicklow Tourism (April 2018)
• MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website, Djouce
• MountainViews: Irish Online Mountain Database
• The Database of British and Irish Hills , the largest database of British Isles mountains ("DoBIH")
• Hill Bagging UK & Ireland, the searchable interface for the DoBIH

v t e Mountains and hills of Great Britain and Ireland
British Isles	P600s Marilyns Fell Mountains by height by prominence (Simms classification)
Scotland	Mountains and hills Munros Murdos Corbetts Grahams Donalds
Outside Scotland	Furths Hewitts Nuttalls England Wales
England	Birketts Ethels Wainwrights
Ireland	Mountains in Ireland Vandeleur-Lynams Arderins MountainViews
County tops	England and Wales (1964) England (ceremonial) Wales (local government areas) Scotland counties council areas Northern Ireland counties districts Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland county and provincial tops

v t e Mountains and hills of Leinster
List of mountains in Ireland List of mountains and hills of County Dublin
Blackstairs Mountains	Black Rock Mountain Blackstairs Mountain Croaghaun Mount Leinster
Cooley Mountains	Clermont Carn Slieve Foy
Slieveardagh Hills	Clomantagh Hill Knocknamuck
Slieve Bloom Mountains	Arderin Barcam Baunreaghcong Carroll's Hill Castleconor Farbreague Garraunbaun Ridge of Capard Stillbrook Hill Wolftrap Mountain
Wicklow Mountains	Annagh Hill Barnaslingan Bray Head Benleagh Camaderry Camenabologue Carrick Mountain Carrickgollogan Carrigvore Cloghernagh Conavalla Corrigasleggaun Croaghanmoira Croghan Mountain Cupidstown Hill Djouce Duff Hill Gravale Great Sugar Loaf Keadeen Mountain Kilmashogue Kippure Larch Hill Little Sugar Loaf Lobawn Lugduff Luggala Lugnaquilla Maulin Moanbane Montpelier Hill Mullacor Mullaghcleevaun Prince William's Seat Scarr Seefin Seefingan Silsean Slievegad Slievemaan Sugarloaf (West Wicklow) Table Mountain Tibradden Mountain Tonduff Tonelagee Turlough Hill Two Rock and Three Rock Mountain War Hill
Others	Brandon Hill Ben of Howth Coppanagh Croghan Hill Dalkey Hill Dún Ailinne Faughan Hill Hill of Allen Hill of Ben Hill of Tara Hill of Uisneach Hill of Ward Killiney Hill Knockeyon Mount Alto Mullaghreelan Mullaghmast Mullaghmeen Naul Hills Shielmartin Hill Slieveboy Slieve na Calliagh Tara Hill

v t e Lists of long-distance trails in Ireland
Long-Distance	Waymarked Ballyhoura Way Barrow Way Bealach na Gaeltachta Beara Way Blackwater Way Bluestack Way Burren Way Cavan Way Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Dingle Way Dublin Mountains Way East Clare Way East Munster Way Grand Canal Way Hymany Way Leitrim Way Lough Derg Way Kerry Way Mid Clare Way Miners Way and Historical Trail Monaghan Way Multeen Way Nore Valley Way North Kerry Way Offaly Way Royal Canal Way Sheep's Head Way Slieve Bloom Way Slieve Felim Way Sligo Way South Leinster Way Suck Valley Way Táin Way Tipperary Heritage Way Western Way Westmeath Way Wicklow Way Non-Waymarked Bangor Trail Beara-Breifne Way (partial) Malin to Mizen
Pilgrim path	Cnoc na dTobar Cosán na Naomh Lough Derg Saint Kevin's Way Tochar Phádraig
Cycle greenway	Boyne Greenway Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway Cork Greenway (Harbour Greenway, Midleton–Youghal) Dublin–Galway Greenway Great Southern Trail Great Western Greenway Royal Canal Greenway Tralee–Fenit Greenway Waterford Greenway Kingdom of Kerry Greenways (North Kerry Greenway, South Kerry Greenway) (proposed)
Boarded mountain	Cuilcagh "Stairway to Heaven" (Cavan/Fermanagh) Diamond Hill (Connemara) Djouce (Wicklow) Glendalough "Spinc/White Trail" (Wicklow) Torc Mountain (Kerry)
Fell running	Denis Rankin Round Wicklow Round
Schemes	Walks Scheme
Lists of mountains in Ireland

• Marilyns of Ireland
• Mountains and hills of County Wicklow
• Hewitts of Ireland
• Mountains under 1000 metres