Benlettery | |
---|---|
Binn Leitrí | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 577 m (1,893 ft) [1] |
Prominence | 62 m (203 ft) [1] |
Listing | Arderin |
Coordinates | 53°28′55″N 9°50′43″W / 53.481824°N 9.845263°W [1] |
Naming | |
English translation | Peak of the Wet Hillsides |
Language of name | Irish |
Geography | |
Location | County Galway, Ireland |
Parent range | Twelve Bens |
OSI/OSNI grid | L7754649537 |
Topo map | OSi Discovery 44 |
Geology | |
Type of rock | Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock [1] |
Benlettery ( Irish: Binn Leitrí, meaning "Peak of the Wet Hillsides") [2] at 557 metres (1,827 ft), is the 259th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale. [3] [4] [5] Benlettery is in the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland, and is the 11th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens. [5] [6] The Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel is on the southern slopes of Benlettery, off the N59 road to Clifden. [7] [8]
According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, the townland of Lettery ( Irish: Leitrí, meaning "wet hillsides") is on the south slope of Benlettery. [2] Tempan notes an alternative name of Bindowglass or "Bendouglas" ( Irish: Binn Dúghlais, meaning "peak of the black stream") was recorded as early as 1684 by Irish historian Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh. [2] Ó Flaithbheartaigh chronicled about a pool of water on the summit which turns the hair white of anyone who washes in it. [2]
Benlettery is the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens and lies at its western edge. Benlettery is connected to the range by a high northerly ridge to the peak of Bengower 664 metres (2,178 ft); [5] this ridge forms a fork which also connects neighboring Benglenisky 516 metres (1,693 ft) to Bengower. [5] [9] Benlettery is one of the six Bens that form a horseshoe around the valley of the Glencoaghan River (also known as the Glencoaghan Horseshoe). [10] [11]
Unlike most of the other main Bens, Benlettery is below 600-metres in elevation, however, its relative positioning at the southern end of the range, and its "pyramidal" summit (when viewed from the south), means that is often featured as a scenic backdrop to the Ballynahinch Castle and the Ballynahinch Lake. [12]
On the southern slopes of Benlettery is the 40-bed "Ben Lettery Connemara Youth Hostel" (Benlettery spelt as two words), owned and operated by An Oige, the Irish YHA; [7] [8] it was ranked by Outside.ie as one of the ten best An Oige youth hostels in Ireland. [13]
As with Derryclare 677 metres (2,221 ft), on the east side of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, Benlettery's accessibility makes is a popular peak as a standalone 5-kilometre 2-3 hour climb (starting and ending at the Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel); however, the high ridge Benlettery shares with the peaks of Bengower and Benglenisky, means that it is also climbed as part a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with these peaks. [12] [14] [15]
Benlettery is part of the 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks; [10] [11] and of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits. [9]
Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe
ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic
Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe
Walk 23: Binn Ghleann Uisce
Route 4: Benglenisky, Bengower and Benlettery
Benlettery | |
---|---|
Binn Leitrí | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 577 m (1,893 ft) [1] |
Prominence | 62 m (203 ft) [1] |
Listing | Arderin |
Coordinates | 53°28′55″N 9°50′43″W / 53.481824°N 9.845263°W [1] |
Naming | |
English translation | Peak of the Wet Hillsides |
Language of name | Irish |
Geography | |
Location | County Galway, Ireland |
Parent range | Twelve Bens |
OSI/OSNI grid | L7754649537 |
Topo map | OSi Discovery 44 |
Geology | |
Type of rock | Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock [1] |
Benlettery ( Irish: Binn Leitrí, meaning "Peak of the Wet Hillsides") [2] at 557 metres (1,827 ft), is the 259th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale. [3] [4] [5] Benlettery is in the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland, and is the 11th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens. [5] [6] The Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel is on the southern slopes of Benlettery, off the N59 road to Clifden. [7] [8]
According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, the townland of Lettery ( Irish: Leitrí, meaning "wet hillsides") is on the south slope of Benlettery. [2] Tempan notes an alternative name of Bindowglass or "Bendouglas" ( Irish: Binn Dúghlais, meaning "peak of the black stream") was recorded as early as 1684 by Irish historian Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh. [2] Ó Flaithbheartaigh chronicled about a pool of water on the summit which turns the hair white of anyone who washes in it. [2]
Benlettery is the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens and lies at its western edge. Benlettery is connected to the range by a high northerly ridge to the peak of Bengower 664 metres (2,178 ft); [5] this ridge forms a fork which also connects neighboring Benglenisky 516 metres (1,693 ft) to Bengower. [5] [9] Benlettery is one of the six Bens that form a horseshoe around the valley of the Glencoaghan River (also known as the Glencoaghan Horseshoe). [10] [11]
Unlike most of the other main Bens, Benlettery is below 600-metres in elevation, however, its relative positioning at the southern end of the range, and its "pyramidal" summit (when viewed from the south), means that is often featured as a scenic backdrop to the Ballynahinch Castle and the Ballynahinch Lake. [12]
On the southern slopes of Benlettery is the 40-bed "Ben Lettery Connemara Youth Hostel" (Benlettery spelt as two words), owned and operated by An Oige, the Irish YHA; [7] [8] it was ranked by Outside.ie as one of the ten best An Oige youth hostels in Ireland. [13]
As with Derryclare 677 metres (2,221 ft), on the east side of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, Benlettery's accessibility makes is a popular peak as a standalone 5-kilometre 2-3 hour climb (starting and ending at the Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel); however, the high ridge Benlettery shares with the peaks of Bengower and Benglenisky, means that it is also climbed as part a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with these peaks. [12] [14] [15]
Benlettery is part of the 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks; [10] [11] and of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits. [9]
Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe
ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic
Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe
Walk 23: Binn Ghleann Uisce
Route 4: Benglenisky, Bengower and Benlettery