Brandon Peak

About Brandon Peak

Situated on the rugged spine of the Dingle Peninsula, this sharp, airy summit offers a more dramatic edge than its higher namesake to the north. It forms a key part of the spectacular ridge walk above the Pater Noster lakes, overlooking the deep glaciated coums of the Brandon range.

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Did You Know?

• •The peak takes its name from Saint Brendan the Navigator, the 6th-century monk famously said to have discovered America. While the higher summit to the north is the primary site of the Cosán na Naomh pilgrimage, this peak shares the saint's patronage and forms part of the sacred mountain's high skyline.
• •For those traversing the ridge from the south, this summit serves as the dramatic gateway to the Brandon massif. The approach from the Connor Pass involves crossing the scree-covered slopes of Screig an tSeabhaic, offering constant views of the jagged coastline and the Atlantic breakers.
• •From the summit, the view north looks directly into the deep, dark corries of the Pater Noster lakes—a series of tiered glacial tarns linked by a single stream. On a clear day, the vista extends across the Atlantic to the Blasket Islands and south across Dingle Bay to the MacGillycuddy's Reeks.
• •The ridge's height and proximity to the ocean have made it a notorious obstacle in poor weather. No fewer than eight aircraft, including several during World War II, have crashed into the Brandon range, with wreckage occasionally still visible in the steep, inaccessible coums below the ridge.
• •Despite being a formidable Hewitt and a top-ten Irish peak in its own right, it suffers from a perpetual branding crisis, frequently being mistaken for its slightly taller neighbor or simply ignored by those taking the easier 'Pilgrim’s Path' to the main summit.