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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 556m, 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 556m, 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 L77546 49537, OS 1:50k mapsheet 44
Place visited by: 351 members, recently by: patman1974, knightsonhikes, srr45, farmerjoe1, ToughSoles, Tuigamala, Hillwalker65, SeanPurcell, maoris, Carolineswalsh, Kaszmirek78, maitiuocoimin, Kirsty, Carolyn105, miriam
I visited this place: NO
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Bedrock type: Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top, (Bennabeola Quartzite Formation)
Notes on name: The townland of Lettery (Leitrí, 'wet hillsides') is on the S slopes of this mountain. The alternative name Bindowglass or Bendouglas (Binn Dúghlais, 'peak of the black stream') is recorded as early as 1684 by Roderic O'Flaherty. Note that both names refer to the wet state of the mountain. O'Flaherty mentions a pool of water on the summit which turns the hair white of anyone who washes in it. In the days before accurate measurements of altitude, he erroneously believed that Bindowglass was the highest of the Twelve Bens and was two miles high. This misconception was corrected by James Hardiman, who edited O'Flaherty's work in 1846, aware that the Ordnance Survey had found that Ben Corr and Ben Bawn exceed it in height by several hundred feet (O'Flaherty, 107).
Short or GPS IDs, 6 char: Bnltry, 10 char: Benlettery
Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/315/
Gallery for Benlettery (Binn Leitrí) and surrounds
Summary
for Benlettery (Binn Leitrí):
Most southerly Ben is a beautiful, rugged summit
Summary created by simon3, aidand, Colin Murphy
17 Feb, 2020
EmlaDr Brg (L75873 48578) there is a car parking and a stile to start you off. It is then possible to go up a prominent ridge extending NE towards Benlettery. We recommend this route, particularly after heavy rain and particularly when descending.It is also possible to start near on the road outside the Benlettery Hostel, at Grid
BenLet Hst (L777 483). Walk up to the hostel and take the stile on your left. Proceed in a NNW direction for about 1km, the grassy terrain mostly firm underfoot, but uneven at times, the incline becoming steeper as you ascend. When you reach point A (L773 493) continue north for a few hundred metres and then turn NE at B (L773 497), which will take you to the col to the north of the summit, and which has a narrow rocky track leading all the way to the top.
Ascent will take 1.5 - 2 hours depending on the route you choose.
The top has magnificent views over the lakes of southern Connemara and also of the nearer members of the Twelve Bens.
Add a Place Comment for Benlettery, Binn Leitrí 
A good start to the twelve
by shaneanddearbh
1 Aug 2015
Beautiful mountain, took the long way around, parking the car at the hostel and walked a couple of kilometres around into the valley before climbing to the coll and then to the summit. It looks like there is space beside the main road a little past the hostel that would cut out some of the walk and just climb a more direct route up the valley. Its a little boggy in parts but overall it is fine and this was after a few weeks of rain! Upon entering the valley the sound of road drops off and it is really peaceful. I was expecting to meet more people on this one but it was relatively isolated. Once you reach the coll the climb to the summit is quiet easy. Best part of 2 hours on the ascent and an hour back down. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/18219/
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simon3 on Benlettery
by simon3
27 Jun 2004
Benlettery from Bengower. This picture hints at the fine view available south described by Joss Lynam [The Mountains of Connemara – 1988] as “.. the fantastic land and water jigsaw of South Connemara” Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/1004/
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csd on Benlettery
by csd
16 Feb 2003
Climbed this on 15.02.2003. Parked at the car park grid ref In'Beg Path (L782 478) and walked to Benlettery hostel. Crossed the stile in the hostel's front garden and walked up to the left of the hostel. Aimed north-west-ish for the spur and gained the summit from the SW. Beautiful views from the top, and a nice continuation on to Bengower possible (see pic of bengower taken from summit of benlettery). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/324/
In'Beg Path (L782 478) and walked to Benlettery hostel. Crossed the stile in the hostel's front garden and walked up to the left of the hostel. Aimed north-west-ish for the spur and gained the summit from the SW. Beautiful views from the top, and a nice continuation on to Bengower possible (see pic of bengower taken from summit of benlettery). Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/324/
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gerrym on Benlettery
by gerrym
15 Jun 2008
Park on section of disused road next to Benlettery youth hostel ( BenLet Hst (L778 483)). Walk up road to youth hostel and take a stile to the left onto the hillside. Pass through a stand of trees and cross a fence. There follows a steep climb of over 500m on generally good ground. There are great views down over Ballynahinch Lake (can pick out the elusive castle) and many other loughs before the sea. There is a well trodden track (eroded) as hit the higher reaches of the mountain, marked by some small cairns. The ground here is increasingly rocky and i have had difficulty on 2 occasions before the summit with steep ground requiring the use of hands - where is the easier path?
The summit is mostly rocky with a few cairns. There are wide reaching views - west over Benglenisky and to the islands of the Atlantic, east to the other side of the famous Glencoaghan horseshoe and the Mamturks, north to the impressively rocky top of Bengower backed by Benbreen and of course south to the loughs and loughs and sea.
A good starting point for one of the best walks in the country around Glencoaghan, or a visit to Bengower and Benglenisky. Can be busy but today no one else which made it all the better. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/3180/
BenLet Hst (L778 483)). Walk up road to youth hostel and take a stile to the left onto the hillside. Pass through a stand of trees and cross a fence. There follows a steep climb of over 500m on generally good ground. There are great views down over Ballynahinch Lake (can pick out the elusive castle) and many other loughs before the sea. There is a well trodden track (eroded) as hit the higher reaches of the mountain, marked by some small cairns. The ground here is increasingly rocky and i have had difficulty on 2 occasions before the summit with steep ground requiring the use of hands - where is the easier path? The summit is mostly rocky with a few cairns. There are wide reaching views - west over Benglenisky and to the islands of the Atlantic, east to the other side of the famous Glencoaghan horseshoe and the Mamturks, north to the impressively rocky top of Bengower backed by Benbreen and of course south to the loughs and loughs and sea.
A good starting point for one of the best walks in the country around Glencoaghan, or a visit to Bengower and Benglenisky. Can be busy but today no one else which made it all the better. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/3180/
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Clear view above the cloud
by Onzy
17 Mar 2014
Experienced an unusual cloud inversion on Ben Lettery. Picture shows the view north to Bengower, Benbreen and beyond. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/315/comment/15929/
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British summit data courtesy:
Database of British & Irish Hills
Database of British & Irish Hills
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