An Bhinn Dubh [Bencollaghduff]

About An Bhinn Dubh [Bencollaghduff]

Sitting at the heart of the Twelve Bens, this rugged quartzite peak is the range’s second-highest summit. It offers demanding, rocky terrain typical of Connemara, acting as a crucial link on the Glencoaghan Horseshoe between Benbreen and Benbaun. Expect steep, scree-covered slopes and an earned perspective over the dark waters of Lough Inagh.

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Did You Know?

• •The name An Bhinn Dubh translates from Irish as ‘the black peak’, though the anglicised version Bencollaghduff is often interpreted as ‘the peak of the black hag’ or ‘cormorant’. This likely refers to the dark, shadowed appearance of its cliffs when contrasted with the pale, weathered quartzite of neighbouring summits.
• •It is a pivotal point on the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, a challenging 16km circuit widely considered one of Ireland’s finest ridge walks. From the summit, the view north across the col to Benbaun reveals the true scale of the Twelve Bens’ fractured, glaciated landscape.
• •With a height of 697 metres, it is classified as a Marilyn and a Hewitt. Its prominence makes it a significant landmark in the Connemara National Park, clearly visible from the N59 road that skirts the base of the range.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers a detailed panorama of the Atlantic coastline to the west and the sharp, parallel ridges of the Maumturk Mountains across the Inagh Valley to the east.
• •Navigating the rocky arête toward Benbreen provides an excellent opportunity to discover exactly how many different ways Connemara quartzite can attempt to twist a walker’s ankle.