Benbradagh

About Benbradagh

Overlooking the town of Dungiven, this prominent Sperrins outlier offers a steep, rewarding climb. Characterised by its dramatic western escarpment and rich Cold War history, the summit provides expansive views across the Roe Valley toward the Binevenagh cliffs and the distant hills of Donegal across Lough Foyle.

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Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Irish Binn Bhradach, often translated as 'treacherous peak'. This likely refers to the steep, craggy western face that drops sharply away from the summit plateau toward the valley floor.
• •During the Cold War, the hill served as a significant United States military communications base for the North Atlantic fleet. Underground bunkers were constructed to store high explosives, leading to local rumours and diplomatic tension regarding the potential storage of nuclear weapons.
• •Although technically an outlier of the Sperrin Mountains, its isolated position as a Marilyn means the summit offers an unobstructed panorama. On a clear day, you can pick out the distinctive profile of Sawel Mountain to the south and the basalt heights of the North Coast.
• •The ascent can be simplified by following a steep tarmac access road that leads high onto the shoulder, though the presence of old military fencing serves as a reminder that this peak has seen more than just hikers.