Bengower Explained

Bengower
Other Name:Binn Gabhar
Elevation M:664
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:196
Translation:Goats' Peak
Listing:100 Highest Irish Mountains, Marilyn, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam
Location:County Galway, Ireland
Range:Twelve Bens
Map:Ireland
Label Position:right
Map Size:240
Coordinates:53.4919°N -9.834°W
Grid Ref Ireland:L7830150644
Topo:OSi Discovery 37
Geology:Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock

Bengower [2] at 664m (2,178feet), is the 135th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale,[3] and the 166th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.[4] [5] Bengower is in the southern end of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland, and is the 6th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens.[5] [6]

Naming

Irish academic Paul Tempan notes that there is no evidence as to the origin of the "goat" reference, however, he notes that the mountain was mistakenly labelled as "Glengower" in the popular Discovery Map series.[2]

Geography

Bengower lies between the summits of Benbreen 691m (2,267feet), to the north, and Benlettery 577m (1,893feet), and Benglenisky 517m (1,696feet), to the south.[5] Climbing guidebooks note that its northerly rocky ridge (that rises up from the col of Irish: Mám na Gaoithe, or "pass of the wind" at 470 metres) requires scrambling to reach the summit.[7]

Bengower's prominence of 196m (643feet) qualifies it as a Marilyn, and it also ranks it as the 86th-highest mountain in Ireland in the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the prominence threshold is 100 metres.[5] [8]

Hill walking

Because of its positioning, the more straightforward routes to climb Bengower usually follow a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with the neighbouring peaks of Benlettery and Benglenisky.[9] [10] [11]

Bengower is often climbed as part of the popular 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks.[12] [7] [13] Bengower is also climbed as part of the longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits.[14] [15]

Bibliography

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bengower. MountainViews Online Database. 31 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Irish Hill and Mountain Names. MountainViews.ie. Paul Tempan. February 2012.
  3. Web site: Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m. MountainViews Online Database. Simon Stewart. October 2018.
  4. Web site: Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m. MountainViews Online Database. Simon Stewart. October 2018.
  5. Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork,
  6. Book: Dillion . Paddy . Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide . Harper Collins . 978-0002201216 . 2001 .
  7. News: A walk for the weekend: The Twelve Bens of Connemara are a hard walk but worth it. Tony Doherty. 22 June 2016. Irish Times. Even if you had to crawl across bogs to get to them, it would be worth it as the nine peaks which form the Glencoaghan Horseshoe provide some of the most exhilarating mountaineering on this island..
  8. Web site: Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m. MountainViews Online Database. September 2018.
  9. Book: Dillion . Paddy . Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide . Harper Collins . 978-0002201216 . 2001 . Walk 23: Binn Ghleann Uisce .
  10. News: A walk for the weekend: Twelve Bens, Connemara, Co Galway . John G. O'Dwyer . 29 October 2015 . 9 August 2019 . Irish Times.
  11. Book: Paul Phelan . 2011 . Connemara & Mayo - A Walking Guide: Mountain, Coastal & Island Walks . Collins Press . 978-1848891029 . Route 4: Benglenisky, Bengower and Benlettery.
  12. Book: Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide (Walking Guides) . Helen Fairbairn. Collins Press. 30 December 2014. 978-1848892118. ROUTE 34: The Glencoaghan Horseshoe. A true classic.
  13. Book: Dillion . Paddy . Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide . Harper Collins . 978-0002201216 . 2001 . Walk 30: Gleann Chóchan Horseshoe .
  14. Web site: Owenglin Horseshoe. MountainViews Online Database. 30 July 2019.
  15. Book: Dillion . Paddy . Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide . Harper Collins . 978-0002201216 . 2001 . Walk 24: Owenglin Horseshoe .

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