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Place Search
Feature count in area: 34, all in Galway,
OSI/LPS Maps: 37, 44, EW-CON, MSW
Highest Place: Benbaun 729m
Starting Places (48) in area Twelve Bens:
Angler's Return, Barr na nÓran Road, Ben Lettery Hostel, Bogville Road, Bridge St Clifden, Bundorragha Estuary Cross, Bunnageeha, Cannaclossaun, Connemara Mountain Hostel, Connemara National Park Visitor Centre, Dernasliggaun, Doire na bhFlann North, Doughruagh CP, Emlaghdauroe Bridge, Emlaghdauroe South, Fee Lough SW, Foher, Glasbeg Stream, Glashmore Bridge, Glencoaghan River Bridge, Glencraff Road End, Gleninagh River, Illaunroe North, Illaunroe South, Inaghbeg Path, Kylemore Abbey Exit, Kylemore River, Letterfrack Lodge, Lettergesh Beach, Lough Anivan Bend, Lough Auna S, Lough Fee East, Lough Nacarrigeen S, Lough Tanny, Muck Lough NW, Nambrackkeagh Lough, Owen na Baunoge River, Owengar Bridge, Owenglin River, Owenwee River, Pollacappul Lough E, Pollacappul Lough W, Shanvally, Skeaghatimull, Ten Bens Cottage, Tooreennacoona River, Western Way Cnoc na hUilleann, Western Way Inagh Cottages
Summits & other features in area Twelve Bens:
Cen: Lough Auna Hills: Cregg 297m, Townaloughra East Top 216m
Cen: Polladirk: Bencullagh 632m, Maumonght SW Top 454m, Diamond Hill 442m, Knockbrack 442m, Maumonght 602m
E: Glencorbet: Benbaun 729m, Benbrack 582m, Benbaun 477m, Knockpasheemore 412m, Benfree 638m, Muckanaght 654m
N: Doughruagh: Altnagaighera 549m, Benchoona 581m, Benchoona East Top 585m, Currywongaun 273m, Doughruagh 526m, Doughruagh South Top 525m, Garraun 598m, Garraun South Top 557m, Letterettrin 333m
SE: Glencoaghan Loop: Bencollaghduff 696m, Benglenisky 516m, Benlettery 577m, Bencorr 711m, Bencorr North Top 690m, Bencorrbeg 577m, Binn an tSaighdiúra 653m, Benbreen 691m, Benbreen Central Top 680m, Benbreen North Top 674m, Derryclare 677m, Bengower 664m
Note: this list of places may include island features such as summits, but not islands as such.
Highest Place: Benbaun 729m
Starting Places (48) in area Twelve Bens:
Angler's Return, Barr na nÓran Road, Ben Lettery Hostel, Bogville Road, Bridge St Clifden, Bundorragha Estuary Cross, Bunnageeha, Cannaclossaun, Connemara Mountain Hostel, Connemara National Park Visitor Centre, Dernasliggaun, Doire na bhFlann North, Doughruagh CP, Emlaghdauroe Bridge, Emlaghdauroe South, Fee Lough SW, Foher, Glasbeg Stream, Glashmore Bridge, Glencoaghan River Bridge, Glencraff Road End, Gleninagh River, Illaunroe North, Illaunroe South, Inaghbeg Path, Kylemore Abbey Exit, Kylemore River, Letterfrack Lodge, Lettergesh Beach, Lough Anivan Bend, Lough Auna S, Lough Fee East, Lough Nacarrigeen S, Lough Tanny, Muck Lough NW, Nambrackkeagh Lough, Owen na Baunoge River, Owengar Bridge, Owenglin River, Owenwee River, Pollacappul Lough E, Pollacappul Lough W, Shanvally, Skeaghatimull, Ten Bens Cottage, Tooreennacoona River, Western Way Cnoc na hUilleann, Western Way Inagh CottagesSummits & other features in area Twelve Bens:
Cen: Lough Auna Hills: Cregg 297m, Townaloughra East Top 216m
Cen: Polladirk: Bencullagh 632m, Maumonght SW Top 454m, Diamond Hill 442m, Knockbrack 442m, Maumonght 602m
E: Glencorbet: Benbaun 729m, Benbrack 582m, Benbaun 477m, Knockpasheemore 412m, Benfree 638m, Muckanaght 654m
N: Doughruagh: Altnagaighera 549m, Benchoona 581m, Benchoona East Top 585m, Currywongaun 273m, Doughruagh 526m, Doughruagh South Top 525m, Garraun 598m, Garraun South Top 557m, Letterettrin 333m
SE: Glencoaghan Loop: Bencollaghduff 696m, Benglenisky 516m, Benlettery 577m, Bencorr 711m, Bencorr North Top 690m, Bencorrbeg 577m, Binn an tSaighdiúra 653m, Benbreen 691m, Benbreen Central Top 680m, Benbreen North Top 674m, Derryclare 677m, Bengower 664m
Note: this list of places may include island features such as summits, but not islands as such.
Place Rating ..
Grid Reference L76558 55818, Mapsheet(s): EW-CON, 37
Place visited by: 235 members, recently by: Blackstar, MarionP, jennycoo, JoHeaney, patman1974, srr45, farmerjoe1, DeirdreM, SeanPurcell, Carolineswalsh, Kaszmirek78, Lyner, Moirabourke, JohnHoare, farmerjoe
I visited this place: NO
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Bedrock type: Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top, (Bennabeola Quartzite Formation)
Notes on name: The summit of this mountain is strewn with lumps of quartz. Walks: for a route taking in Cnoc Breac, Binn Bhreac and Binn Bhán or Maolán, see Paddy Dillon, Connemara, 163-67.
Short or GPS IDs, 6 char: Bnb582, 10 char: Benbrack
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/308/
Gallery for Benbrack (Binn Bhreac) and surrounds
Summary
for Benbrack (Binn Bhreac):
Speckled Ben
Summary created by JohnA, Onzy
01 Oct, 2022
The quickest way up and down is probably from the north, parking in Kylemore Abbey car park (
KylMor (L74866 58148)). Head back east along the main road (N59) for about 300m, turning south up a gated lane towards an old lime kiln, over the smaller Benbaun to the summit and returning the same way. This should take 2.5 to 3 hours. However a much more satisfying walk would be to return via Knockbrack, turning the walk into a mini horseshoe taking from 3-4 hours. On the descent from Knockbrack you should head west for about 300m before descending in a north westerly direction to a track which leads through the old Kylemore Farm back to the N59.The hill can also be climbed as part of a longer circuit of the Glencorbet Valley starting from a number of points off the R344, such as
KylmorRv (L799 574).
Add a Place Comment for Benbrack, Binn Bhreac 
gerrym on Benbrack
by gerrym
25 Oct 2006
Parked on the R344 at the entrance to a forestry plantation (A (L799 582)), loads of room! It is a short walk to the quiet road into Glencorbet, crossing the Kylemore river and taking the rough track uphill to the left. From here it is a matter of heading off onto the hillside over wettish ground, the views are already stunning but i will leave a full description until later. After crossing a fence there are views across Kylemore Lough to the abbey at the foot of Duchruach. Point 392 m is reached in 1 1/4 hours, with views down into the isolated farm buidings and forestry deep into Glencorbet and ahead to Maolan and Benbrack. There is a slight drop (and a big hare) to a boggy col before climbing the grassy slopes of Maolan - the sights of Benfree and Benbaun across Glencorbet are captivating. From the small cairn it is worthwhile heading N to get views over to Klymore Abbey.
The gloriously rocky sight of Benbrack is now ahead ,as drop down past a pool complete with dragonfly and climb to the summit. The rocky top was reached in 2 1/4 hours, the couple of cairns are barely distinguishable from the more general rock. There is a beautiful panorama - N to the end of the Bens, Clare Island and Mweelrea, the Sheefrys, Bengorm, Partrys - E to the Mamturks - S to the rest of the Bens. I dropped down W to a beautiful little lough (B (L764 558)) with golden rock at its shore and a gurgling stream leaving at its end, had a leisurely lunch stop on a glorious day. I headed S again to a small cairn overlooking the col with Muckanaght, there are 2 further small cairns on the 1/2 hour descent. I now had a very daunting looking climb up the steep looking N slopes of Muckanaght - see you there. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/2530/
The gloriously rocky sight of Benbrack is now ahead ,as drop down past a pool complete with dragonfly and climb to the summit. The rocky top was reached in 2 1/4 hours, the couple of cairns are barely distinguishable from the more general rock. There is a beautiful panorama - N to the end of the Bens, Clare Island and Mweelrea, the Sheefrys, Bengorm, Partrys - E to the Mamturks - S to the rest of the Bens. I dropped down W to a beautiful little lough (B (L764 558)) with golden rock at its shore and a gurgling stream leaving at its end, had a leisurely lunch stop on a glorious day. I headed S again to a small cairn overlooking the col with Muckanaght, there are 2 further small cairns on the 1/2 hour descent. I now had a very daunting looking climb up the steep looking N slopes of Muckanaght - see you there. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/2530/
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simon3 on Benbrack
by simon3
9 Oct 2003
This party is at the summit of Benbrack looking towards Muckanaght (Meachanach). The view in this composite picture shows the coastline at Ballynakill Harbour to the right. To the right again and not shown would be Knockbrack (442m) part of a ridge that extends north west from Benbrack in the direction of Diamond Hill which is also visible from Benbrack. Note the relatively small amount of vegetation on the hard whitish quartzite underfoot. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/698/
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csd on Benbrack
by csd
16 Nov 2003
Another possible approach to Benbrack is via the Kylemore River valley at Glencorbet (see the Harvey map). Turn off the R344 and park at the 43 metre spot height, then follow the marked track up to Glencorbet. The picture shows the view up to Benbrack, taken from the river valley. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/746/
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CaptainVertigo on Benbrack
by CaptainVertigo
19 Sep 2005
August 2005...Left the car near Kylemore Abbey. Found Maolan a stiff grassy climb. But the work was over! There was no problem descending a little into the saddle, and then on to Binn Bhreac. We were on a short leash so we went back the way we came (fantastic views of Kylemore Lake with its fairytale abbey!). A better route would have involved a horseshore Maolan-Binn Bhreac-Cnoc Bhreac (as set out rather beautifully inPaddy Dillon's "Connemara" Walk No.26). From the summit of BB you will see into the heart of the range. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/1953/
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pdtempan on Benbrack
by pdtempan
25 Nov 2005
A rather warmer day than some of the other photos! I led this group up Benbrack in August 2003. In the background is Benbaun and the higher peaks of the Twelve Bens. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/308/comment/721/
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British summit data courtesy:
Database of British & Irish Hills
Database of British & Irish Hills
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