Picture from pdtempan : View of Ballynakill Harbour from Diamond Hill
Picture: View of Ballynakill Harbour from Diamond Hill
by pdtempan 1 Jul 2008
With Diamond Hill / Binn Ghuaire having been closed for some years while a better path was made by the National Park authority to combat erosion, I was keen to climb the peak now that it is open to the public once again. It is well worth it for the view, which takes in Letterfrack, Tully Mountain, Ballynakill Harbour (the bay immediately below) and many islands to the west, including Achill, Clare Island, Inishturk and Inishbofin. There is also a fine view to the NE of Doughrough overlooking Kylemore Abbey. The waymarked route starts at the National Park centre and follows one of the nature trails before bringing you to more open moorland. About 2km from the start you reach a path junction where the National Park authority asks you to go left and circulate in a clockwise direction, ascending the west side of the hill, gaining the summit and then descending the east side, before looping back to the junction. On the day that I climbed Diamond Hill with a group of French walkers, a fierce east wind (which is probably something of a rarity) made a descent on the exposed east side a very unattractive prospect, so we doubled back from the summit. Now that Diamond Hill is open again, it would be great to see more trails and improved access for walkers in the National Park. There are possible routes on Cnoc Breac and Binn Bhán to the east, but when I was last there it was a fight through the high grass (due to absence of sheep?) and it would have been nice to see a stile over the deer fence and markers indicating an approved crossing point.(Comment Rating 4.12)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/3192/
Excellent ratio of reward to effort
by hibby 23 Oct 2010
Just under 7.5 km in total if you do both "loops" (i.e. start out on the Lower Diamond Hill (red) route from the Visitor's Centre, then do the Upper Diamond Hill (blue) loop over the summit, then complete the red route back to the car park). The views of the coast and islands, Kylemore Lake and Abbey, and the 12 Bens across the valley to the east are really uplifting. There is no better vantage point from which to appreciate the splendour of Connemara.
(Comment Rating 4.00)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/6144/
Picture from shaneanddearbh : Path leading to halfway point on Diamond Hill
Picture: Path leading to halfway point on Diamond Hill
Shine Bright Like a Diamond
by shaneanddearbh 13 Jan 2013
We climbed Diamond Hill on a fine January Saturday morning. Three amateur's and two enthusiastic children made it up to the summit in about 1 hour and twenty minutes. The facilities at the visitor center were very good, with toilets, picnic area, cafe and car park, all free. The paths are well sign posted and the boarded walkways over the boggy areas are convenient for newbies like ourselves. I am sure the purists would not be happy but maybe they have spent too long with their heads in the clouds :) The last stretch is more difficult in places but generally the steps up are a great help. The weather was fantastic and the views are unbelievable. You will have a great view into the Bens, over looking Kylemore lake and Abbey, Letterfrack, Tully Mountain in the background and the glistening sea could not be beaten. I would recommend this climb to all, a mountain for the people.(Comment Rating 4.00)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/14902/
A Diamond among Bens
by Geo 9 Jun 2010
Lovely short walk while on hols in Connemara. Took about 2.5 hours to do the circuit from the National Park HQ in Letterfrack village up to the summit and return to the NP buildings. Unfortunately it was misty at the top today so I can't say just how good the views are, but from the occasional peek we got on the way up, I'm guessing this is a little gem well worth doing, even if the purists might not like the man-made path all the way to the top and over and back again. I would recommend for first-timers, or those wanting to try out hill-walking just for the amount you can get out of a small bit of work. Full marks to the National Park, and would you believe, it's free admission and free parking, Nirvana exists in Letterfrack!
(Comment Rating 3.40)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/5865/
Picture from John71 : One and two
Picture: One and two
by John71 4 Jun 2007
Couple of 'auld dogs - (two two legged and two four legged) went up on a lovely sunny day at the end of May. Left the Highest Authorities at the big Rock on the Yellow route!! (peace) Pics attached. Well worth the effort (and avoidance of shopping in Avoca H!!!)(They dont' like 'auld dogs!!!)))(Comment Rating 3.12)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/2727/
Picture from katekat
by katekat 8 Jun 2007
The first peak in Ireland I have climbed up on 18.11.2006. In here I fell in love with hillwalking and I am joining irish mountains. The view from here is wonderful. You can see e.g. Twelve Bens including the highest one, Kylemore lake and Kylemore Abbey, the NP below and the sea...The peak itself is not about challenge, it is just a short walk while enjoying NP Connemara.(Comment Rating 3.00)
Your Score: Very useful << >>Average
Trackback: http://mountainviews.ie/summit/649/comment/2729/
(End of comment section for Binn Ghuaire.)
Benbaun, 729m
BleckCra
eamonoc
Collaborative entry
Collaborative entry
simon3
simon3
RSS Feed for Recent Items.
