Binn an Choire [Bencorr]

About Binn an Choire [Bencorr]

Rising as the highest point of the Twelve Bens in Connemara, this quartzite peak is the centerpiece of the legendary Glencoaghan Horseshoe. Its steep, scree-covered slopes and rugged ridges offer a serious mountain experience, rewarding climbers with an expansive view over the Atlantic coastline and the neighbouring summit of Binn Dubh.

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Did You Know?

• •Binn an Choire translates from Irish as 'Peak of the Corrie,' a reference to the dramatic glacial cirques carved into its flanks, most notably the deep, rocky bowl shared with the neighbouring peak of Bencollaghduff.
• •As the highest summit in the Twelve Bens, it is the focal point of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, a strenuous 16km circuit often cited as one of the finest and most demanding ridge walks in Ireland.
• •The mountain is largely composed of Connemara Quartzite, which gives the summit its pale, shimmering appearance but also results in the unstable, 'marbles-underfoot' scree slopes that characterize the range.
• •The summit offers a commanding perspective over the long, narrow waters of Lough Inagh to the east, with the jagged skyline of the Maumturk Mountains rising directly across the valley.
• •While the Irish name refers to a corrie, many hikers remember it as the 'Peak of the Scree,' given the mountain's enthusiasm for trying to slide out from under your boots on every descent.