This eastern Ben is the highest summit of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe and sits proudly above Lough Inagh. Its slopes are steep and largely quartzite with no shortage of optional easy scrambling. Wonderful views of the Inagh valley, Maamturks, S Conamara and Mweelrea. Take care in wind and mist as there is steep ground to the east.

SW. Park in open country near L80535 48860 A. Head for the S ridge of Derryclare via easy grassy slopes. Follow a feint track to the summit before dropping to the col at L81257 51722 B. Ascend steeply to the top of Bencorr. 5km - allow 1.5hrs+ Return the same way or follow the full Glen Coaghan horseshoe loop or drop into Glen Coaghan as per track/3205.

E. Bencorr is part of a shorter loop from the E. Park at forest entrance L84558 49929 C and follow forest tracks to L82918 50714 D. From here bear NNW [can be boggy] to gain Derryclare's E spur, then head up the quartzite ridge to the summit of Derryclare. Follow the route to Bencorr as described above. Descend via the E spur until L81937 52251 E where you can make your way carefully to the beckoning stream below. Follow the stream through the forest to a bridge at L83285 51953 F returning to the car via the forest tracks. Allow 6-8 hrs for the loop...see track/3248

N. You can also summit from Gleninagh in the N but note that there is no parking available in this glen. If you manage to park somewhere on the R344 [not easy] I would recommend track/2590 for an overview of a fine loop.

Notable tracks are included in the above text. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/101/comment/4861/

This route starts and finishes at Benlettery Hostel and takes in a full circuit of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe. This horseshoe walk takes in six of the Bens and is a rite of passage for anybody hillwalking in Ireland. It's a challenging but enjoyable day on the hills. Bencorr being the highest point on the route. Be warned there are some difficult ascents and descents on this route, particularly the Western side of the horseshoe so it's best left for a fine day. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/101/comment/20581/

From the summit of Binn an tSaighdiúra we picked our way carefully south down over loose rock towards Mám na bhFonsai. From this wild, rocky col between Binn an tSaighdiúra and Bencollaghduff the views eastwards towards the Maumturks with the outstretched arms of Bencorrbeg and Bencorr embracing the corrie that is the Corrabeg Valley are particularly fine.

From Mám na bhFonsai a steep, rocky ascent over a faint zig-zag pathway leads to Bencorr’s North Top that offers amazing views southwards to Derryclare, Loch Bhaile na nInse and on to Roundstone Bog. From here we continued along the ridge which traverses thick bands of brilliant white quartz and inclined slabs of rock involving some scrambling up and down which would certainly pose a challenging walk in adverse weather conditions. A short and enjoyable scramble then leads to the summit cairn on Bencorr. From here we savoured the broad sweep of the ridge we had traversed from Binn an tSaighdiúra and views of the majestic Twelve Bens marching away to the NW, each peak growing ever fainter in the purple haze of the late afternoon. Superlatives utterly fail me. Connemara is a wild, elemental place that truly excites and ignites the senses.

By now it was early evening and mindful of time we decided to make our way back to the Gleninagh Valley and there are no quick and easy routes off this ridge. Mám na bhFonsai marks a low point beneath which vertical quartzite cliffs fall away in dramatic fashion. Although there is a potential route down to the valley at L804 529 G it would be foolhardy for the inexperienced to use this as an escape route or during inclement weather. We chose another route which should also not be attempted in adverse weather or darkness.

Retracing our route along the ridge we descended Bencorr North Top then traversed round the steep slopes of Binn an tSaighdiúra to the top of the gully L81086 52969 H that leads down towards Carrot Ridge. Passing across the top of this we continued along a well defined traverse path over the top of the scree slope to the east of Carrot Ridge. There is not even the faintest of sheep tracks down over here and although a rope is not necessary, the descent is tortuous on the knees due to steep unstable ground comprised of unconsolidated scree and patches of peat loosened by the recent snow and subsequent thaw. With great care we made steady progress in the shadows of the rocky spine of Carrot Ridge which we had climbed earlier that day, the top of which was now tinted with the rosy glow of the early evening sun.

Within 90 minutes from the summit of Bencorr we were well below the slab marking the beginning of Carrot Ridge and heading north across the bog towards the square outline of a sheep fold L80595 54816 I to regain the track leading eastwards to the farm. From Bencorr’s summit to the R344 took about 2.5 hours. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/101/comment/4614/

Dropping down a short distance from Binn Chorr’s North Top there is a relatively short climb up a craggy rock face to the main summit 81158 52195 J. My GPS reading here was 713m, two metres more than that suggested on the map. From the summit there are magnificent and unimpeded views over Lough Inagh into the Mamturks with Binn Idir an Dá Log particularly prominent. North/Northeast the southern aspect of its Northern top and to the left of that, Binn an tSaighdiúra (which if I’m not mistaken means ‘Soldier’s summit’) and just below that again Binn an Choíre Beg are in view. Beyond these Binn Dubh (with Binn Bhán behind) and to the west Binn Bhraoin & Binn Gabhar bore testament to the path taken by the Mid-Ulster Walking Club members to get to this point of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe walk. And so it was that we turned south to tackle the last of the peaks in the Horseshoe Walk, Binn Doire Chlair (Derryclare). Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/101/comment/2330/

The mountain is also known as Bencorr. This summit was an important point in the principal triangulation of Ireland. Rays from it were measured to Keeper Hill, Slieve More, Brandon, Baurtregaum, Nephin, Slieve League etc in 1830. It would be interesting to see if any of these places can still be seen on a clear day. The distances are: Keeper Hill 132.60km, Brandon 145.04 and Slieve League 145.89.
As you can see the weather was the very common Connemara mist on the day this picture was taken, so all you get is the photo of the fine cairn adorning the summit. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/101/comment/985/