Binn Doire Chlair [Derryclare]

Rising steeply as the most easterly peak of the Twelve Bens, this rugged Hewitt serves as the gateway to the classic Glencoaghan Horseshoe. Its scree-laden quartzite slopes tower over the Inagh Valley, offering an immediate and dramatic perspective on neighbouring Binn Ghabhar across the deep, glacial valley floor.

• •The name Binn Doire Chláir translates from Irish as 'The Peak of the Oakwood of the Plain.' It refers to the ancient woodland that historically skirted the base of the mountain along the shores of Derryclare Lough.
• •As the southeastern anchor of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, it is frequently paired with its neighbour Binn Ghabhar. The traverse between the two requires navigating a narrow, rocky col that provides some of the most spectacular ridge walking in Connemara.
• •The mountain's geology is dominated by Dalradian quartzite, a hard, resistant rock that gives the Twelve Bens their characteristic pale, luminous appearance and creates the notoriously loose, ankle-turning scree slopes found on the higher reaches.
• •From the summit, the view across the Inagh Valley to the Maumturks is exceptional, particularly the sharp profile of Binn idir an dá Ghabhal. To the south, the intricate network of lakes and islands leading toward Roundstone and the Atlantic coastline is clearly visible.
• •The 'Twelve' in the range's title is something of a loose approximation; depending on how strictly you define a peak, you might find yourself counting closer to twenty summits while negotiating this particular ridge.