Benbaun

About Benbaun

As the highest point of the Twelve Bens and the county top of Galway, this quartzite peak dominates the Connemara skyline. It is a rugged, stony climb, often tackled as the centrepiece of the challenging Glencoaghan Horseshoe, offering sharp ridges and expansive views across the Maumturks and the Atlantic coast.

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Did You Know?

• •Derived from the Irish Binn Bhán, meaning 'White Peak', the name refers to the mountain's light-coloured quartzite rock which gives the summit a pale, shimmering appearance against the darker surrounding bogland.
• •Standing at 729 metres, it is the highest mountain in County Galway and the central anchor of the Connemara National Park.
• •The summit offers a clear sightline across the Inagh Valley to the serrated peaks of the Maumturk Mountains, including the neighbouring Binn idir an dá Ghleann.
• •It serves as the highest point of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, a classic mountain circuit that links several of the Bens in a single, high-level ridge walk often regarded as one of Ireland's finest days out.
• •Attempting the full Twelve Bens circuit involves roughly 2,500 metres of ascent; Benbaun is often the point where a walker's initial enthusiasm for the scenery is replaced by a very focused interest in their own boots.