simon3 on Binbane

Binbane isn't very high and it doesn't have steep cliffs or other drama. But it does have location so it's not surprising that it has a trig pillar on it because there are clear lines to much of the high ground of Donegal and north Mayo.

Apart from Benbulbin (43k away) as shown in the picture, it's possible to see Slievetooey, Slieve League, Knockalongy in the Ox Mtns and just discernible in the Rayleigh scattering, Nephin 108k away. (not in this pic)

Neither a height based list nor a relative height list would tell you of the attractions of this small summit which is so rewarding on a good day. Often low hills have there own charm. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/610/comment/2850/

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simon3 on Binbane

If you approach Binbane from the Glenties - Mountcharles road the summit rises impressively from the bog. You may notice an odd thing. The southern side of the summit is steeper than the northern. This is extremely unusual in Ireland. David Kirk, occasional geological commentator in MV, tells me that the summit is made of "Gaugin" Quartzite but there is a fault so that the southern slopes are a gritstone. There was a major ice cap during the last iceage and this may have caused plucking to steepen the southern slope as well as the gritstone not being as strong as quartzite.

Apparently the Bluestacks are ".. a geological nightmare - with about 10 different rock types of different ages chopped up and re-arranged by a bewildering pattern of faults "

Our picture shows some of the quartzite part of the summit and looks towards another quartzite lump, Errigal (the whitish triangular peak on the left skyline). Going further right the next peak is Slieve Snaght and the much nearer slowly rising peak is Aghla Mountain.

Other views north included two of the main summits of the Inishowen Peninsula including the other Slieve Snaght and Raghtin More at 77.5k away (not in this pic)

One way up is approach it from the road to the north. There's space for 1 or 2 cars at around C (G8408 8893). Much of the way up is boggy underfoot. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/610/comment/2849/

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I saw the Light

Done as part of a Carn bagging exercise on a very wet day, visiting Cloghmeen first and then Binbane NE top
finishing on Binbane, at it`s Trig with Street light attached, I have seen fallen Trigs, tilted Trigs, sunken Trigs and one with a seat around it but never one with what appears to be a street light attached ! Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/610/comment/23590/

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You`ll never know what you will find in the Bluestack Mountains

After the light, I was surprised to see this guy on the way down from Binbane Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/610/comment/23591/

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A superb viewpoint

Binbane/Binn Bhan gives terrific views for not a great deal of effort, ideal if you only have a couple of hours spare. From the Frosses to Glenties road a driveable boreen leads up from D (G840 849) towards the hill. A car can be squeezed in by a gate at E (G843 859) (take care not to block access) or there is more space up the gravel road at the entrance to the forest. From the gate a track leads to a ruined farmhouse and above this a gate and stile lead to the open hill. Steep but not too rough ground leads up alongside a fence to the summit. As it's the last summit in the range the view is extensive, stretching from Errigal to North Mayo. Either return the same way or cross rough pathless ground to the East Summit, with a nice little arete to scramble up if that's your thing. The peaty lump SE of the cairn is the true summit. More pathless ground leads down to the NE corner of the wood (the fence is most easily crossed right next to the wood), then down past a ruined cottage with two trees growing in its roof to join the Bluestacks Way at a surfaced track. Turn right to return to the car. 4km, 300m ascent. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/610/comment/20075/

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