Maumturks

The Maumturks or Maamturks (Irish: Sléibhte Mhám Toirc; mountains of the boar's pass)^[b] is a mountain range in Connemara,^[c] 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).

Maumturks (Maamturks)
Irish: Sléibhte Mhám Toirc
Maumturk Mountains: looking south from Letterbreckaun towards Knocknahillion and Binn idir an dá Log.
Highest point
Peak	Binn idir an dá Log
Elevation	702 m (2,303 ft)
Coordinates	53.48°N 9.60°W / 53.48; -9.60
Dimensions
Length	25 km (16 mi) North West to South East
Naming
English translation	pass of the boar
Language of name	Irish language
Geography
Maumturks (Maamturks) Location of the Maunturks
Location	Connemara, County Galway, Ireland
Country	Ireland
Provinces of Ireland	Connacht
Geology
Mountain type(s)	Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic top
Climbing
Normal route	"Maamturks Challenge"[a][1]

Hill walking

The walk of the full range (from Maam Cross to Leenaun), is considered one of the "great classic ridge-walks of Ireland",^[3] 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.^[1][a] Near the centre of the range in a deep glen is Irish: Máméan, a site of pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Patrick.^[4]

List of peaks

The table below lists some of the highest major mountain peaks of the Maumturk Mountains.^[2]

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

The Maumturks range as seen from across the Inagh Valley in the Twelve Bens range. Letterbreckaun is the most prominent mountain to the left (north), followed by Knocknahillion, and then the large Binn Idir an Dá Log summits and ridge. The range then drops into the valley of Máméan, before rising up to Binn Mhór to the right (south)

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.^[5]

Further reading

• Lynam, Joss; Robinson, Tim (1988). Mountains of Connemara: Hill Walker's Guide. Folding Landscape. ISBN 978-0950400242.

• Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.

• Dillion, Paddy (2001). Connemara: Collins Rambler's guide. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0002201216.

• Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.

• Connemara (Superwalker) Map (Waterproof Folded Map) (1:30,000 scale). Harvey Maps. 2015. ISBN 978-1851373383.

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

Notes

1. The entire route covers just under 25 kilometres, 7,600 ft of elevation, and generally takes 10–12 hours for competent hill walkers to complete
2. The direct translation of Mhám Toirc is "pass of the boar"; there are several "turk" placenames in Connemara.^[2]
3. The range is outside the boundary of the Connemara National Park and on private property, but climbing access is granted.