Maumturks Explained

Maumturks (Maamturks)
Other Name:	Irish: Sléibhte Mhám Toirc
Country:	Republic of Ireland
Region:	Connacht
Region Type:	Provinces of Ireland
Length Km:	25
Length Orientation:	North West to South East
Highest:	Binn idir an dá Log
Elevation M:	702
Coordinates:	53.48°N -9.6°W
Translation:	pass of the boar
Language:	Irish language
Location:	Connemara, County Galway, Ireland
Map:	Ireland
Type:	Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top
Normal Route:	"Maamturks Challenge"

The Maumturks or Maamturks (Irish: Sléibhte Mhám Toirc; mountains of the boar's pass) is a mountain range in Connemara, County Galway, in the west of Ireland. It is a long, broadly-straight range, consisting of weathered quartzite peaks in its central section. The Maumturks lie east of the Twelve Bens, on the other side of Lough Inagh and the Inagh Valley (a Western Way route).

Hill walking

The walk of the full range (from Maam Cross to Leenaun), is considered one of the "great classic ridge-walks of Ireland",^[1] and since 1975, the University of Galway Mountaineering Club, has run the annual "Maamturks Challenge", a walk covering the entire 25–kilometre range in a single day.^[2] Near the centre of the range in a deep valley is Irish: Máméan, a site of pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Patrick.^[3]

List of peaks

The table below lists some of the highest major mountain peaks of the Maumturk Mountains.

Rank	Mountain peak	Elevation	English Name
1	Binn idir an dá Log	702m (2,303feet)	Benadolug‡
2	Binn Bhriocáin	667m (2,188feet)	Letterbreckaun
3	Binn Mhór	661m (2,169feet)	Binn Mhor
4	Binn Chaonaigh	633m (2,077feet)	Binn Chaonaigh
5	Mullach Glas	622m (2,041feet)	Mullach Glas
6	An Meall Dubh	618m (2,028feet)	Leenaun Hill
7	Binn Mhairg	612m (2,008feet)	Binn Mhairg
8	Corcogemore	609m (1,998feet)	Corcogemore*
9	Cnoc na hUilleann	607m (1,991feet)	Knocknahillion

(‡) The anglicised version is rarely used or marked on any maps; a more common anglicised name is the incorrect name of "Barrslievenaroy" (or "Baurslievenaroy"), which is a nearby townland on the slopes of Binn idir an Da Log.
(*) Cartographer Tim Robinson notes: "the Ordnance Survey has been incorrectly calling this mountain 'Leckavrea' for a hundred and fifty years." "Lackavrea" (Ir. Leic Aimhréidh) is the mountain to the east on the other side of Mám Aodha.

Rock climbing

While the Maumturks are not known for rock climbing, the Loch Mhám Ochóige area of the range has rock climbs in the V-Diff to HVS grades.^[4]

Further reading

• Book: Lynam . Joss . Robinson . Tim . Mountains of Connemara: Hill Walker's Guide . Folding Landscape . 978-0950400242 . 1988 .
• Book: Dillion . Paddy . The Mountains of Ireland: Guide to Walking the Summits . Cicerone . 978-1852841102 . 1993 .
• Book: Dillion . Paddy . Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide . Harper Collins . 978-0002201216 . 2001 .
• Book: Fairbairn . Helen . Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide . Collins Press . 978-1848892118 . 2014 .
• Book: Connemara (Superwalker) Map (Waterproof Folded Map) (1:30,000 scale) . Harvey Maps . 978-1851373383 . 2015 .

See also

• Mweelrea, major range in Killary Harbour
• Twelve Bens, major range in Connemara
• Lists of mountains in Ireland
• Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles

External links

• The Maamturks Challenge, University College Galway Mountaineering Club
• The Maamturks Challenge: Routecard (2015)
• Mountainview: The Maumturks Range
• The Maumturks Ridge Walk: Illustrated Guide

Notes and References

1. Book: Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide (Walking Guides) . Helen Fairbairn. Collins Press. 30 December 2014. 978-1848892118. Route 35 Maumturks (North), Route 36 Maumturks (South).
2. Web site: The Maumturks Challenge. University College Galway Mountaineering Club. 2018.
3. Web site: Máméan Pilgrimage. National Museum of Ireland. High up the slopes of the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara there is a natural passage-way known as Máméan (pass of the birds). At the summit of this rugged track you will find an ancient pilgrim site dedicated to St. Patrick..
4. Web site: Maumturks: Mám Ochóige. Irish Online Climbing Wiki. Location - The crag is at grid reference L 876 532 near Mám Ochóige one mile from the road. on west flank of col between Knocknahillion and point 2305, below and west of lake on the Maamturk ridge The crag is not too high up and often in the sun.. 24 July 2019.