Benbreen

Benbreen (Irish: Binn Braoin, meaning 'Braon's Peak')[2] at 691 metres (2,267 ft), is the 100th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale,[3] and the 122nd–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.[4][5] Benbreen lies in the southern end of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland. Benbreen is the 4th-tallest mountain of the Twelve Bens range, after Benbaun 729 metres (2,392 ft), Bencorr 711 metres (2,333 ft), and Bencollaghduff 696 metres (2,283 ft).[5][6] Benbreen's profile is of a "high narrow rocky ridge with several summits", than a typical "peaked mountain".[7]

Benbreen
Binn Braoin
Beenbreen, Benbreen Central Top, and Benbreen North Top from the summit of Bencollaghduff. Bengower is the peak at left and back.
Highest point
Elevation691 m (2,267 ft)[1]
Prominence186 m (610 ft)[1]
Listing100 Highest Irish Mountains, Marilyn, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam
Coordinates53°30′00″N 9°50′04″W[1]
Naming
English translationBraon's peak
Language of nameIrish
Geography
Benbreen is located in Ireland
Benbreen
Benbreen
Ireland
LocationCounty Galway, Ireland
Parent rangeTwelve Bens
OSI/OSNI gridL7831151547
Topo mapOSi Discovery 37
Geology
Type of rockPale quartzites, grits, graphitic top bedrock[1]

Naming

Irish academic Paul Tempan notes that Irish: Braon can mean "drip" or "drop", but is more likely related to a personal name, and is the basis of the local surnames Irish: Ó Braoin and Irish: Mac Braoin, which have been anglicised as "Breen" and "McBreen".[2]

Geography

The actual summit of Benbreen lies on the southern end of a long high rocky quartzite ridge that includes the subsidiary peaks of Benbreen Central Top 680 metres (2,230 ft), and Benbreen North Top 674 metres (2,211 ft); this gives Benbreen the profile of a "high narrow ridge", with Benbreen as the South Top, than a typical "peaked mountain".[5][7] Benbreen Central Top's prominence of 25 metres (82 ft), and Benbreen North Top's prominence of 16 metres (52 ft), qualify them both as Vandeleur-Lynams on the Irish mountain classification system.[5]

Benbreen lies between the summits of Bencollaghduff 696 metres (2,283 ft) to the north, and Bengower 664 metres (2,178 ft) to the south, and its southerly ridge down to the col with Bengower (known as Irish: Mám na Gaoithe, or "pass of the wind" at 470 metres), is noted for its large deposits of scree.[8][9]

Benbreen's prominence of 186 metres (610 ft) qualifies it as a Marilyn, and it also ranks it as the 60th-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold is 100 metres.[5][10]

Recreation

Hill walking

Benbreen is most often climbed as part of the popular 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best high-grade hill-walking routes.[7][8][9] Benbreen is also climbed as part of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits;[11][12]

Rock climbing

Benbreen's northeastern cliffs have multi-pitch rock-climbs with grades from Diff (D) to Moderate Severe (MS), and length ranging from 40 to 130 metres.[13] Some of the first ascents date from the mid 1980s, and noted routes include Blind Faith (S 3a, 4a, 3a, 80 m), and Stoned & Starving (S -, 4a, 75 m).[13]

  • Bengower (left) and Benbreen (right), from the summit of Bencollaghduff
    Bengower (left) and Benbreen (right), from the summit of Bencollaghduff
  • Benbreen and its southern scree slopes, from the summit of Bengower
    Benbreen and its southern scree slopes, from the summit of Bengower
  • Bengower (left), Benbreen's high summit ridge (centre), and Bencollaghduff (right)
    Bengower (left), Benbreen's high summit ridge (centre), and Bencollaghduff (right)
  • Benbreen's mini-massif and summit ridge, from Bencorr
    Benbreen's mini-massif and summit ridge, from Bencorr
  • Benbreen's northeast face (see rock climbing), viewed from the col of Maumina with Benbaun
    Benbreen's northeast face (see rock climbing), viewed from the col of Maumina with Benbaun

Bibliography
  • Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.
  • MountainViews Online Database (Simon Stewart) (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
  • Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216.
  • Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benbreen.

References
  1. "Benbreen". MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  2. Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
  3. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m". MountainViews Online Database.
  4. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m". MountainViews Online Database.
  5. Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7
  6. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216.
  7. Helen Fairbairn (30 December 2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide (Walking Guides). Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118. ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic
  8. Tony Doherty (22 June 2016). "A walk for the weekend: The Twelve Bens of Connemara are a hard walk but worth it". Irish Times. Even if you had to crawl across bogs to get to them, it would be worth it as the nine peaks which form the Glencoaghan Horseshoe provide some of the most exhilarating mountaineering on this island.
  9. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216. Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe
  10. "Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m". MountainViews Online Database. September 2018.
  11. "Owenglin Horseshoe". MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  12. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216. Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe
  13. "Binn Braon". Irish Climbing Wiki. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
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