Twelve Bens
Encyclopedia
The Twelve Bens, or Twelve Pins , 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.
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.
Roundstone, County Galway
Roundstone is a village in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland, located on the west coast of Ireland. The town of Clifden is nearby to the north....
in Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
in the west of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Dedicated fell runners
Fell running
Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty...
attempt to hike all twelve peaks in a single day. Topographically, this range is partnered with the Maumturks
Maumturks
Na Sléibhte Mhám Toirc are a picturesque mountain range in Connemara in the west of Ireland. They are less well known than their more famous neighbours, the Twelve Bens on the other side of the Inagh Valley...
range on the other side of the lonely Glen Inagh (and the route of Western Way
Western Way
The Western Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is long and begins in Oughterard, County Galway and ends in Ballycastle, County Mayo. It is typically completed in seven days...
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
Benbaun
Benbaun is a mountain in County Galway, Ireland, the highest of the Twelve Bens, and the highest peak in Galway. As the highest point in Galway, it is the 10th highest county peak in Ireland....
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 peaksSummit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
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
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
to be included in this list.
| Rank Ranking A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either 'ranked higher than', 'ranked lower than' or 'ranked equal to' the second.... |
Mountain peak Summit (topography) In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation... |
Elevation | English Name Summit (topography) In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Binn Bhán Benbaun Benbaun is a mountain in County Galway, Ireland, the highest of the Twelve Bens, and the highest peak in Galway. As the highest point in Galway, it is the 10th highest county peak in Ireland.... |
729 m (2,391.7 ft) | Benbaun |
| 2 | Binn Chorr Bencorr Bencorr is a mountain in Galway, Ireland. With a height of 711 metres it is the second highest mountain in the Twelve Bens after Benbaun and the 101st highest summit in Ireland. It is the second highest mountain in Galway. Englishman Tim Robinson gave this mountain the alternative name of Binn an... |
711 m (2,332.7 ft) | Bencorr |
| 3 | Binn Dubh | 696 m (2,283.5 ft) | Bencollaghduff |
| 4 | Binn Bhraoin | 691 m (2,267.1 ft) | Benbreen |
| 5 | Binn Doire Chláir | 677 m (2,221.1 ft) | Derryclare |
| 6 | Binn Gabhar | 664 m (2,178.5 ft) | Bengower |
| 7 | Meacanach | 654 m (2,145.7 ft) | Muckanaght |
| 8 | Binn Fraoigh | 638 m (2,093.2 ft) | Benfree |
| 9 | An Chailleach | 632 m (2,073.5 ft) | Bencullagh |
| 10 | Binn Breac | 582 m (1,909.4 ft) | Benbrack |
| 11 | Binn Leitrí | 577 m (1,893 ft) | Benlettery |
| 12 | Binn Glean Uisce | 516 m (1,692.9 ft) | Benglenisky |
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.