This is part of a route from the south taking in the Glencoaghan Horseshoe. See entries for Bennlettery/Bengower for parking/routes etc. From Benbreen Central Top this is a simple stroll of 400m to the NE, with the bare minimum of effort required to make the short ascent to a summit which is a mixture of grass and rock, and marked by a cairn. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/149/comment/4909/

Binn Bhraoin North Top marked the end of the fourth stage in a Glencoaghan Horseshoe Walk undertaken by nine members of the Mid-Ulster Walking Club over the May Bank holiday weekend. Having negotiated Binn Gabhar & Binn Bhraoin’s summit and Central Top (see for earlier parts of walk) we dropped down east towards Binn Bhraoin North Top passing a deep gully along the way. While not as wide as the Devil’s Coach Road (Slieve Beg in Mournes) it is certainly as deep or deeper and might offer a keen scrambler a worthy challenge. The views from the North Top are also spectacular – Binn Bhán more or less directly north across the valley rises majestically with Binn Fhaoigh an adjunct to its left. Binn Bhreac's domed summit closes the gap between Bin Fhaoigh & Meacanach (Muckanaght) its near neighbour. To the Northeast the drop to Maumnageeragh col and subsequent impressive steep rise up Binn Dubh beckons. Glencoaghan valley with its silver meandering namesake river and the bordering mountain walls of Bin Chorr & Binn Doire Chláir to the east and Binn Gabhar to the west were remarkable in their beauty on this sunniest & warmest of days. I delayed here for a while and then had to beat a hasty descent down to Maumina (Maumnageeragh) Col in order to catch up with the rest of the group, some of whom by this time were about to start their ascent of Binn Dubh the next peak in the circuit. This is easier said than done as care is neded during the climb down over rocky ground where keeping your hands free may be a good idea, particularly on the upper part of the descent. Loose rocks & shale is also encountered requiring due care and attention so as to avoid mishaps. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/149/comment/2327/

Binn Bhraoin (Benbreen) North Top is the summit nearer and to the left in this picture taken from near the summit of Muckanaght. It is part of the long twisting and central ridge of the Bens, which started at Benlettery and continues through Bengower, various tops of Benbreen and then Bencollaghduff. David Herman [Hillwalkers Connemara and Mayo] said of Benbreen that it “.. this a magical eyrie. Right at the centre of the Bens and with towering peaks in all directions, it is a great place to marvel at the majesty of this superb range ..”

The glittering river is the Owenglin, making a natural and meandering edge to the somewhat straight edges of the forestry plantation. On the skyline, from the right is part of Benglenisky, then the hump of Benlettery (577m, the southernmost Ben) and then Bengower (664m) partly hidden by Benbreen. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/149/comment/705/

The day I was here I followed the Bhraoin ridge South to North until I came to (L78602 52298 A) where it splits and (if you are on the Chorchan circuit) one needs to ensure you’re heading towards Mam Eidhneach and not the Chochan Valley floor. The pic below was taken just before reaching the North summit i.e. the lump of rock to the right. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/149/comment/2207/