Knocklayd

Knocklayd is a peak in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, about 3 miles due south from Ballycastle, [County Antrim|Ballycastle]. The Irish grid [reference system|Irish Grid] reference is D115 364.

Geography

Knocklayd is the northernmost peak of the Antrim Hills, of conical shape with a height above sea level of 1686 ft and a prominence of 1286 ft, and lies within the Antrim Coast and Glens AONB in which it is the third-highest summit. It is the second highest mountain in County Antrim after Trostan.
A trig point has been erected on the summit.
Knocklayd is remarkable for the fact that ten townlands meet in a multipoint near its summit. Clockwise from the north, these are Broom-More, Tavnaghboy, Kilrobert, Clare Mountain, Aghaleck, Corvally, Essan, Cleggan, Stroan, and Tullaghore.

Geology

Knocklayd consisty chiefly of Dalradian schists and gneisses and is covered by chalk and basalt. A mica platform extends between Knocklayd and Tor Point over a distance of about 6 miles. Limestone overlay the slate and surrounds the mountain in a diameter of about 1 1/2 miles and is itself covered by basalt. Quartz and chalcedony may be found on the mountain.

Archaeology

Carn an Truagh surrounds the summit. It is about 4 m high and 20 m in diameter and a scheduled monument. The structure is almost certainly a passage tomb; it has never been excavated, but it is exposed in places through erosion. It consists of white quartz and is covered by peat and grass.
Knocklayd is further surrounded by several standing stones.