Teevnabinnia [Ben Leiva]

Rising above the southern shores of Lough Nafooey, this rugged Joyce Country summit offers a quiet alternative to the popular Maumturks. Its heathery slopes lead to a Marilyn-class summit with commanding views over the deep glacial waters below and the sprawling, dark plateau of Maumtrasna to the north.

• •The name Teevnabinnia is derived from the Irish Taobh na Binne, meaning the 'side of the peak', while its alternative name, Ben Leiva (Binn Shléibhe), translates as 'mountain peak'.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point over Lough Nafooey, a rare example of a lake formed within a landlocked glacial valley, bordered by some of the oldest volcanic rocks in Ireland.
• •To the northeast, the view extends across the waters of Lough Mask towards the Partry Mountains, highlighting the hill's position on the transition zone between the Connemara highlands and the Mayo plains.
• •It is a primary peak within 'Joyce Country', a region named after a Welsh family who settled here in the 13th century and whose influence remains etched into the local townland names.
• •If you find yourself alone on the summit, do not be surprised; Teevnabinnia is the kind of place where you are significantly more likely to encounter a stray ewe than another hiker.