# Benbreen

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Mountain in County Galway, Ireland

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 Elevation 691 m (2,267 ft)[1] Prominence 186 m (610 ft)[1] Listing 100 Highest Irish Mountains, Marilyn, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam Coordinates 53°30′00″N 9°50′04″W / 53.500006°N 9.834523°W / 53.500006; -9.834523[1] Naming English translation Braon's peak Language of name Irish Geography Benbreen Ireland Location County Galway, Ireland Parent range Twelve Bens OSI/OSNI grid L7831151547 Topo map OSi Discovery 37 Geology Rock type(s) Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top bedrock[1]

**Benbreen** ([Irish](/source/Irish_language): *Binn Braoin*, meaning 'Braon's Peak')[2] at 691 metres (2,267 ft), is the 100th–highest peak in [Ireland](/source/Ireland) on the [Arderin](/source/Lists_of_mountains_in_Ireland#Arderins) scale,[3] and the 122nd–highest peak on the [Vandeleur-Lynam](/source/Lists_of_mountains_in_Ireland#Vandeleur-Lynams) scale.[4][5] Benbreen lies in the southern end of the [Twelve Bens](/source/Twelve_Bens) mountain range in the [Connemara National Park](/source/Connemara_National_Park) in [County Galway](/source/County_Galway), [Ireland](/source/Ireland). Benbreen is the 4th-tallest mountain of the [Twelve Bens](/source/Twelve_Bens) range, after [Benbaun](/source/Benbaun) 729 metres (2,392 ft), [Bencorr](/source/Bencorr) 711 metres (2,333 ft), and [Bencollaghduff](/source/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]

## Naming

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

## Geography

The actual summit of Benbreen lies on the southern end of a long high rocky [quartzite](/source/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](/source/Topographic_prominence) of 25 metres (82 ft), and Benbreen North Top's prominence of 16 metres (52 ft), qualify them both as [Vandeleur-Lynams](/source/Lists_of_mountains_in_Ireland#Vandeleur-Lynams) on the Irish mountain classification system.[5]

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

Benbreen's [prominence](/source/Topographic_prominence) of 186 metres (610 ft) qualifies it as a [Marilyn](/source/Marilyn_(hill)), and it also ranks it as the 60th-highest mountain in Ireland on the [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database), *[100 Highest Irish Mountains](/source/Lists_of_mountains_in_Ireland#100_Highest)*, 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](/source/Grade_(climbing)) 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]

## Gallery

		- [Bengower](/source/Bengower) (left) and Benbreen (right), from the summit of [Bencollaghduff](/source/Bencollaghduff)

		- Benbreen and its southern scree slopes, from the summit of [Bengower](/source/Bengower)

		- [Bengower](/source/Bengower) (left), Benbreen's high summit ridge (centre), and [Bencollaghduff](/source/Bencollaghduff) (right)

		- Benbreen's mini-massif and summit ridge, from [Bencorr](/source/Bencorr)

		- Benbreen's northeast face (see rock climbing), viewed from the col of [Maumina](/source/Maumina) with [Benbaun](/source/Benbaun)

## Bibliography

- Fairbairn, Helen (2014). *Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide*. Collins Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1848892118](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1848892118).

- [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database) (Simon Stewart) (2013). *A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins*. Collins Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84889-164-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84889-164-7).

- Dillion, Paddy (2001). *Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide*. Harper Collins. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0002201216](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0002201216).

- Dillion, Paddy (1993). *The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits*. Cicerone. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1852841102](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1852841102).

## See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Benbreen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Benbreen).

- [Twelve Bens](/source/Twelve_Bens)

- [Mweelrea](/source/Mweelrea), major range in Killary Harbour

- [Maumturks](/source/Maumturks), major range in Connemara

- [Lists of mountains in Ireland](/source/Lists_of_mountains_in_Ireland)

- [Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles](/source/Lists_of_mountains_and_hills_in_the_British_Isles)

- [List of Marilyns in the British Isles](/source/List_of_Marilyns_in_the_British_Isles)

- [List of Hewitt mountains in England, Wales and Ireland](/source/List_of_Hewitt_mountains_in_England%2C_Wales_and_Ireland)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mviews_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mviews_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mviews_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-mviews_1-3) ["Benbreen"](http://mountainviews.ie/summit/122/). [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database). Retrieved 31 July 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-peak_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-peak_2-1) Paul Tempan (February 2012). ["Irish Hill and Mountain Names"](http://www.mountaineering.ie/_files/Paul%20Tempan%20Irish%20Mountain%20Placenames%20-%20Feb%202012.pdf) (PDF). MountainViews.ie.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mva_3-0)** Simon Stewart (October 2018). ["Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m"](https://mountainviews.ie/lists/arderin/). [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mvvl_4-0)** Simon Stewart (October 2018). ["Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m"](https://mountainviews.ie/lists/vandeleur-lynam/?PHPSESSID=6lpes93lcdlq890dprmqqu4dn6). [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-collins_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-collins_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-collins_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-collins_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-collins_5-4) Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84889-164-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84889-164-7)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dillon_6-0)** Dillion, Paddy (2001). *Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide*. Harper Collins. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0002201216](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0002201216).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Helen34_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Helen34_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Helen34_7-2) Helen Fairbairn (30 December 2014). [*Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide (Walking Guides)*](https://www.amazon.com/Irelands-Best-Walks-Walking-Guides/dp/184889211X). Collins Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1848892118](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1848892118). ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-it_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-it_8-1) Tony Doherty (22 June 2016). ["A walk for the weekend: The Twelve Bens of Connemara are a hard walk but worth it"](https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/a-walk-for-the-weekend-the-twelve-bens-of-connemara-are-a-hard-walk-but-worth-it-1.2693403). *[Irish Times](/source/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.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dillon30_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dillon30_9-1) Dillion, Paddy (2001). [*Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide*](http://www.paddydillon.co.uk/guidebook/ramblers-guide-connemara/). Harper Collins. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0002201216](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0002201216). Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mountain_10-0)** ["Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m"](https://mountainviews.ie/lists/highest/). [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database). September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Owenglin Horseshoe"](https://mountainviews.ie/track/1511/). [MountainViews Online Database](/source/MountainViews_Online_Database). Retrieved 30 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dillon24_12-0)** Dillion, Paddy (2001). [*Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide*](http://www.paddydillon.co.uk/guidebook/ramblers-guide-connemara/). Harper Collins. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0002201216](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0002201216). Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-climb_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-climb_13-1) ["Binn Braon"](http://wiki.climbing.ie/index.php/Binn_Braon). Irish Climbing Wiki. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

## External links

- [MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website](https://mountainviews.ie/summit/122/), Benbreen

- [MountainViews: Irish Online Mountain Database](https://mountainviews.ie/mv/irl150setup.htm)

- [The Database of British and Irish Hills](http://www.hills-database.co.uk/downloads.html), the largest database of British Isles mountains ("[DoBIH](/source/DoBIH)")

- [Hill Bagging UK & Ireland](http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/), the searchable interface for the [DoBIH](/source/DoBIH)

v t e Mountains and hills of Great Britain and Ireland British Isles P600s Marilyns Fell Mountains by height by prominence (Simms classification) Scotland Mountains and hills Munros Murdos Corbetts Grahams Donalds Outside Scotland Furths Hewitts Nuttalls England Wales England Birketts Ethels Wainwrights Ireland Mountains in Ireland Vandeleur-Lynams Arderins MountainViews County tops England and Wales (1964) England (ceremonial) Wales (local government areas) Scotland counties council areas Northern Ireland counties districts Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland county and provincial tops

v t e Mountains and hills of Connacht List of mountains in Ireland Achill Island Croaghaun Slievemore Dartry Mountains Benbulbin Tievebaun Truskmore Maumturks Binn Chaonaigh Binn idir an dá Log Binn Mhór Corcogemore Knocknahillion Lackavrea Leenaun Hill Letterbreckaun Mullach Glas Mweelrea Mountains Mweelrea Ben Lugmore Nephin Range Nephin Nephin Beg Birreencorragh Corranabinnia Slieve Carr Ox Mountains Knockalongy Knocknashee Partry Mountains Devilsmother Maumtrasna Sheeffry Range Barrclashcame Benna Beola Twelve Bens Benbaun Benbrack Benbreen Bencollaghduff Bencorr Bencullagh Benfree Benglenisky Bengower Benlettery Derryclare Muckanaght Others Diamond Hill Tully Mountain Garraun group Benchoona Doughruagh Garraun Others Ben Gorm Bricklieve Mountains Croagh Patrick Curlew Mountains Errisbeg Knockmore Knocknarea Lissoughter Seltannasaggart Sliabh an Iarainn Slieve Bawn

v t e Lists of long-distance trails in Ireland Long-Distance Waymarked Ballyhoura Way Barrow Way Bealach na Gaeltachta Beara Way Blackwater Way Bluestack Way Burren Way Cavan Way Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Dingle Way (Kerry Camino) Dublin Mountains Way East Clare Way East Munster Way Grand Canal Way Hymany Way Leitrim Way Lough Derg Way Kerry Way Mid Clare Way Miners Way and Historical Trail Monaghan Way Multeen Way Nore Valley Way North Kerry Way Offaly Way Royal Canal Way Sheep's Head Way Slieve Bloom Way Slieve Felim Way Sligo Way South Leinster Way Suck Valley Way Táin Way Tipperary Heritage Way Western Way Westmeath Way Wicklow Way Non-Waymarked Bangor Trail Beara-Breifne Way (partial) Malin to Mizen Pilgrim path Cnoc na dTobar Cosán na Naomh Lough Derg Saint Kevin's Way Tochar Phádraig Cycle greenway Boyne Greenway Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway Cork Greenway (Harbour Greenway, Midleton–Youghal) Dublin–Galway Greenway Great Southern Trail Great Western Greenway Royal Canal Greenway Tralee–Fenit Greenway Waterford Greenway Kingdom of Kerry Greenways (North Kerry Greenway, South Kerry Greenway) (proposed) Boarded mountain Cuilcagh "Stairway to Heaven" (Cavan/Fermanagh) Diamond Hill (Connemara) Djouce (Wicklow) Glendalough "Spinc/White Trail" (Wicklow) Torc Mountain (Kerry) Fell running Denis Rankin Round Wicklow Round Schemes Walks Scheme Lists of mountains in Ireland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benbreen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benbreen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benbreen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.