Twelve Bens

The Twelve Bens, Na Beanna Beola, are a tight cluster of quartzite peaks in central Connemara, the highest being Benbaun at 729 metres. They are not high by any international standard but they are unusually demanding for their size: the rock is bare, the slopes are steep and covered in loose scree and slabs, there are almost no paths, and the ground between the peaks is deep wet bog. The classic outing is a horseshoe linking several summits, which involves repeated steep descents and reascents on rough ground. Diamond Hill at Letterfrack, on the range's northern edge, is the exception - boardwalked and manageable - and is where most visitors go. Weather here changes without warning and the peaks hold cloud most days, which matters because there is nothing to navigate by on featureless quartzite. Rescue callouts in the Bens are frequent.

The landscape

• The quartzite cones - bare, pale, steep-sided peaks in a tight group.
• Benbaun - 729 metres, the highest of the range.
• The bog between - deep wet ground linking the summits.
• Diamond Hill - the boardwalked exception at Letterfrack.

When to go

May to September. Cloud sits on the tops most days; wait for a clear forecast and start early. Winter here needs full mountain equipment and skills.

What to expect

Steep loose scree, no paths, and deep bog between peaks - much harder than the modest heights suggest. Navigation on bare quartzite in cloud is genuinely difficult. Frequent rescue callouts. Land is farmed; access depends on goodwill.

Nearby

Connemara National Park is at Letterfrack; Killary Harbour is north and Roundstone south.

Key facts