[1][6][7] The Purple Mountain Group is bounded to the west by the Gap of Dunloe, which separates it from MacGillycuddy's Reeks range.

To the south and east are the Lakes of Killarney and to the north is the wide, flat valley of the River Laune.

[3] In his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), Samuel Lewis wrote that Purple Mountain is "so called from the colour of the shivered slate on its surface".

[3] Tempan notes that in The Ancient and Present State of the County of Kerry (1756) by Charles Smith, it is clear this name applied to the whole Purple Mountain Group.

[4] The following is a download from the MountainViews Online Database, who list 5 Purple Mountain Group peaks over 100 metres.