Twelve Bens

Twelve Bens
Irish: Na Beanna Beola
Bencorr from across Lough Inagh
Highest point
Peak	Benbaun
Elevation
Geography
Country	Republic of Ireland
Provinces of Ireland	Connacht

The Twelve Bens, or Twelve Pins (Irish: Na Beanna Beola), is a mountain range of sharp-peaked quartzite ranges located northeast of Roundstone in Connemara in the west of Ireland. Dedicated fell runners attempt to hike all twelve peaks in a single day. Topographically, this range is partnered with the Maumturks range on the other side of the lonely Glen Inagh (and the route of Western Way long distance path). Frequent rainfall and steep-sided mountains produce an abundance of small trickles and streams which descend into wide-bottomed valleys below the Twelve Pins to join larger streams with riffles and pools. The highest point in the Twelve Bens is Benbaun at 729 metres (2,392 ft). They provide excellent walking and climbing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Highest points

The following table lists the 12 highest major mountain peaks of the Twelve Bens Mountains, all with a topographic elevation of at least 516 metres (1,693 ft). There are a number of mountains higher than Benglenisky, but do not have sufficient prominence to be included in this list.

Rank	Mountain peak	Elevation	English Name
1	Binn Bhán	729 m (2,392 ft)	Benbaun
2	Binn Chorr	711 m (2,333 ft)	Bencorr
3	Binn Dubh	696 m (2,283 ft)	Bencollaghduff
4	Binn Bhraoin	691 m (2,267 ft)	Benbreen
5	Binn Doire Chláir	677 m (2,221 ft)	Derryclare
6	Binn Gabhar	664 m (2,178 ft)	Bengower
7	Meacanach	654 m (2,146 ft)	Muckanaght
8	Binn Fraoigh	638 m (2,093 ft)	Benfree
9	An Chailleach	632 m (2,073 ft)	Bencullagh
10	Binn Breac	582 m (1,909 ft)	Benbrack
11	Binn Leitrí	577 m (1,893 ft)	Benlettery
12	Binn Glean Uisce	516 m (1,693 ft)	Benglenisky

File:Benbaun.JPG

Benbaun from north of Lough Inagh

Further reading

• "The Mountains of Connemara : A Hill Walker's Guide" (ISBN 0-9504002-4-6) includes a more useful 1:50000 map than the OS maps 37, 38, 44.

Other projects

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

External links

• Mountain Lists in Ireland