▁the ▁N ore ▁Valley . ▁Con ifer ▁for ests ▁are ▁found ▁on ▁the ▁u pl and ▁areas . ▁ ▁Hab itats ▁of ▁international ▁and ▁national ▁importance , ▁are ▁designated ▁under ▁European ▁Union ▁and ▁national ▁legisl ation . ▁The ▁four ▁categories ▁of ▁designated ▁site ▁in ▁effect ▁in ▁County ▁Kil ken ny ▁are ▁Special ▁Are as ▁of ▁Conserv ation , ▁Natural ▁Heritage ▁Are as , ▁Stat ut ory ▁Nature ▁Res erves ▁and ▁Wild f ow l ▁San ctu aries . ▁The ▁ 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 1 4 ▁county ▁development ▁plan ▁recorded ▁ 3 6 ▁designated ▁natural ▁her itage ▁sites ▁of ▁international ▁and ▁national ▁importance ▁in ▁County ▁Kil ken ny , ▁covering ▁approximately ▁ 4 . 5 % ▁of ▁the ▁county . ▁ ▁Mountains ▁and ▁hills ▁▁ ▁County ▁Kil ken ny ▁is ▁compar ably ▁low ▁compared ▁to ▁other ▁mountain ▁ranges ▁in ▁Ireland ▁with ▁the ▁highest ▁peak ▁being ▁Br andon ▁Hill ▁( ), ▁at ▁ ▁above ▁sea ▁level . ▁The ▁majority ▁of ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁county ▁is ▁h illy ▁except ▁for ▁the ▁centre ▁of ▁the ▁County , ▁just ▁south ▁of ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Kil ken ny , ▁which ▁is ▁compar ably ▁lower ▁than ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁county . ▁There ▁are ▁high lands ▁in ▁the ▁North - E ast , ▁the ▁North - West ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁South ▁of ▁the ▁county . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁county ▁the ▁u pl ands ▁of ▁the ▁Castle com er ▁district , ▁the ▁Castle com er ▁Pl ate au ▁includes ▁the ▁C ulla ▁Hills ▁to