Binn Bhraoin [Benbreen]

About Binn Bhraoin [Benbreen]

Occupying a central position on the celebrated Glencoaghan Horseshoe, this rugged quartzite peak defines the Connemara skyline. Its steep, scree-heavy slopes demand effort, rewarded by a narrow summit ridge with commanding views across Lough Inagh to the Maumturk Mountains and the fractured coastline of the Atlantic.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Binn Bhraoin translates from Irish as the 'Peak of the Dropping' or 'Dripping Peak.' This likely refers to the way the high ridge catches Atlantic moisture, which then drains down the steep, impermeable quartzite faces into the valleys below.
• •It is a cornerstone of the 16km Glencoaghan Horseshoe, an arduous circuit of six major peaks. On this route, Benbreen sits at the halfway point, connected to Binn mBán (Bencollaghduff) to the north and Binn Doire Chláir to the south.
• •The mountain is primarily composed of Dalradian quartzite, which gives the Twelve Bens their distinctive pale, almost white appearance from a distance. Up close, this translates into a terrain of loose, abrasive scree that is famously taxing on both knees and hiking boots.
• •From the summit, walkers can look directly west down the long glacial trough of the Owenglin Valley towards the coastal town of Clifden, or east across the deep trench of the Inagh Valley.
• •In clear weather, the ridge is a navigator's dream; however, when the Connemara mist descends, the uniform grey of the quartzite slopes makes every direction look suspiciously like the wrong one.