Croghan Hill rises abruptly from the flat Offaly countryside, which is exactly why it has mattered for so long. The hill is the eroded core of an ancient volcano and has archaeological associations with inauguration sites, bog finds, and the old kingdoms of the Irish Midlands.
The walk up is short, but the view is the point: fields, bogland, and low horizons stretching away in every direction. It is a fine detour from Tullamore for travellers who like landscape with a long memory.