Benlettery

Benlettery (Irish: Binn Leitrí, meaning "Peak of the Wet Hillsides")[2] at 557 metres (1,827 ft), is the 259th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale.[3][4][5] Benlettery is in the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in Galway, Ireland, and is the 11th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens.[5][6] The Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel is on the southern slopes of Benlettery, off the N59 road to Clifden.[7][8]

Benlettery
Binn Leitrí
Benlettery behind the Ballynahinch Castle fishery
Highest point
Elevation577 m (1,893 ft) [1]
Prominence62 m (203 ft) [1]
ListingArderin
Coordinates53°28′55″N 9°50′43″W [1]
Naming
English translationPeak of the Wet Hillsides
Language of nameIrish
Geography
Benlettery
Ireland
LocationGalway, Ireland
Parent rangeTwelve Bens
OSI/OSNI gridL7754649537
Topo mapOSi Discovery 44
Geology
Type of rockPale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock[1]

Naming

According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, the townland of Lettery (Irish: Leitrí, meaning "wet hillsides") is on the south slope of Benlettery.[2] Tempan notes an alternative name of Bindowglass or "Bendouglas" (Irish: Binn Dúghlais, meaning "peak of the black stream") was recorded as early as 1684 by Irish historian Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh.[2] Ó Flaithbheartaigh chronicled about a pool of water on the summit which turns the hair white of anyone who washes in it.[2]

Geography

Benlettery is the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens and lies at its western edge. Benlettery is connected to the range by a high northerly ridge to the peak of Bengower 664 metres (2,178 ft);[5] this ridge forms a fork which also connects neighboring Benglenisky 516 metres (1,693 ft) to Bengower.[5][9] Benlettery is one of the six Bens that form a horseshoe around the valley of the Glencoaghan River (also known as the Glencoaghan Horseshoe).[10][11]

Unlike most of the other main Bens, Benlettery is below 600-metres in elevation, however, its relative positioning at the southern end of the range, and its "pyramidal" summit (when viewed from the south), means that is often featured as a scenic backdrop to the Ballynahinch Castle and the Ballynahinch Lake.[12]

Ben Lettery Connemara Youth Hostel

On the southern slopes of Benlettery is the 40-bed "Ben Lettery Connemara Youth Hostel" (Benlettery spelt as two words), owned and operated by An Oige, the Irish YHA;[7][8] it was ranked by Outside.ie as one of the ten best An Oige youth hostels in Ireland.[13]

Hill walking

As with Derryclare 677 metres (2,221 ft), on the east side of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, Benlettery's accessibility makes is a popular peak as a standalone 5-kilometre 2-3 hour climb (starting and ending at the Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel); however, the high ridge Benlettery shares with the peaks of Bengower and Benglenisky, means that it is also climbed as part a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with these peaks.[12][14][15]

Benlettery is part of the 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks;[10][11] and of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits.[9]

Bibliography
  • Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.
  • MountainViews Online Database (Simon Stewart) (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
  • Paul Phelan (2011). Connemara & Mayo - A Walking Guide: Mountain, Coastal & Island Walks. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848891029.
  • Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216.
  • Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.

See also

References
  1. "Benlettery". MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  2. Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
  3. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m". MountainViews Online Database.
  4. Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m". MountainViews Online Database.
  5. Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7
  6. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216.
  7. "Ben Lettery Youth Hostel". An Oige, Irish Youth Hostel Association. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  8. "Ben Lettery Hostel". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  9. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216. Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe
  10. Helen Fairbairn (30 December 2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide (Walking Guides). Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118. ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic
  11. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216. Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe
  12. Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216. Walk 23: Binn Ghleann Uisce
  13. "10 Awesome An Óige Hostels". Outside.ie. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  14. John G. O'Dwyer (29 October 2015). "A walk for the weekend: Twelve Bens, Connemara, Co Galway". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  15. Paul Phelan (2011). Connemara & Mayo - A Walking Guide: Mountain, Coastal & Island Walks. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848891029. Route 4: Benglenisky, Bengower and Benlettery
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