Bucan

Tucked away in the northern Maumturks of Connemara, this 552-metre peak offers a rugged, quartzite-strewn ascent. Sitting west of Letterbreckaun, it provides a quieter vantage point over the stark Inagh Valley and the Twelve Bens. It is a challenging climb typical of this ancient, folded landscape, rewarding walkers who stray from the main ridge.

• •The name is derived from the Irish word 'Bucán', which translates as a hook, buckle, or curved hump, likely describing the hill's shape or its position on a curving spur of the Maumturks.
• •It is frequently bagged as a detour from the main Maumturks ridge-walk, following a north-westerly spur from the shoulder of Letterbreckaun.
• •The summit offers a direct, uninterrupted view across the Inagh Valley to the eastern faces of the Twelve Bens, most notably the sharp, rocky silhouettes of Binn Bháin and Binn Gabhar.
• •Like the surrounding peaks, the hill is composed of Dalradian quartzite, creating a landscape of pale, shattered rock outcrops and deep peat hags.
• •Despite its modest height, the terrain is notorious for 'Connemara ankles'—a local term for the fatigue induced by navigating hidden holes in the thick, deceptive purple moor-grass.