Ben Gorm

About Ben Gorm

Rising steeply above the northern shores of Killary Harbour, this prominent Mayo peak offers a rugged, grassy ascent. It serves as a commanding viewpoint over Ireland’s only fjord, framing the massive bulk of Mweelrea to the west and the serrated ridges of the Twelve Bens across the water to the south.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Beann Ghorm, meaning 'Blue Peak'. In Gaelic naming traditions, gorm often describes the dark, hazy blue-grey hue a mountain takes on when viewed from a distance through the damp Atlantic atmosphere.
• •It is most often climbed in tandem with neighbouring Ben Creggan. The two hills form a high-level circuit above the Doolough Pass, connected by a broad saddle that offers a grandstand view into the deep, glacial trench of the Delphi valley.
• •The summit provides one of the finest perspectives of Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only true fjord, allowing walkers to trace its nine-mile length from the village of Leenane out to the open Atlantic.
• •To the north, the mountain overlooks the dark waters of Doo Lough, the site of a tragic 1849 famine walk where hundreds of people seeking relief were forced to trek through winter storms toward Delphi Lodge.
• •Despite the 'blue' designation, the local weather usually ensures the hill spends most of its time dressed in various shades of sodden peat-brown and mist-grey.