Bengower facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bengower
Binn Gabhar
Summit of Bengower viewed from Benbreen
Highest point
Elevation	664 m (2,178 ft)
Prominence	196 m (643 ft)
Listing	100 Highest Irish Mountains, Marilyn, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam
Naming
English translation	Goats' Peak
Language of name	Irish
Geography
Bengower Location in Ireland
Location	Galway, Ireland
Parent range	Twelve Bens
OSI/OSNI grid	L7830150644
Topo map	OSi Discovery 37
Geology
Type of rock	Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock

Bengower is a mountain in County Galway, Ireland. It stands at 664 metres (2,178 ft) tall. This makes it one of the higher peaks in Ireland. Bengower is part of the Twelve Bens mountain range. You can find it in the Connemara National Park. It is the sixth tallest of the main Twelve Bens mountains.

What Does Bengower Mean?

The name Bengower comes from the Irish language. It means "Goats' Peak" (Binn Gabhar). No one is quite sure why it's called "Goats' Peak." Maybe goats used to live there! Sometimes, maps have mistakenly called it "Glengower."

Where is Bengower Located?

Bengower is surrounded by other mountains. To its north is Benbreen, which is 691 metres (2,267 ft) high. To the south, you'll find Benlettery (577 metres (1,893 ft)) and Benglenisky (517 metres (1,696 ft)).

Climbing Bengower from the north can be a bit tricky. There's a rocky ridge that needs some scrambling. This means you might need to use your hands to climb. This ridge starts from a pass called Mám na Gaoithe. That means "pass of the wind" in Irish.

Bengower is also known as a "Marilyn." This is a special term for mountains that stand out. A mountain is a Marilyn if its top is at least 100 metres (330 ft) higher than the land around it. Bengower's top is 196 metres (643 ft) higher than the land around it.

Exploring Bengower: Hill Walking

Many people enjoy hiking up Bengower. There are a few popular ways to do it.

Shorter Loops

A common way to climb Bengower is a 7-kilometre loop. This walk takes about 3 to 4 hours. It includes Bengower and its nearby peaks, Benlettery and Benglenisky. It's a great way to see several mountains in one trip.

Longer Mountain Adventures

Bengower is also part of a famous long-distance hike. This hike is called the Glencoaghan Horseshoe. It's about 16 kilometres long and takes 8 to 9 hours. Many people think it's one of the best hill-walks in Ireland.

Another even longer route is the Owenglin Horseshoe. This one is 20 kilometres long and can take 10 to 12 hours. It goes around the Owenglin River and includes more than twelve mountain tops!

Gallery

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  Benlettery (left), Bengower, and Benbreen (right), viewed from south ridge Derryclare

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  Bengower (left), Benbreen (centre), and Bencollaghduff (right), viewed Derryclare

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  Bengower (back left) behind Benbreen, viewed from Bencollaghduff

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  Benlettery (left) and Benglenisky (right) from the summit of Bengower