BENBAUN (Highest point in the Twelve Bens and Galway, 793m)
A stunning peak and one which I hugely enjoyed traversing at times difficult due in no small part to the fact that I opted to stray away from the beaten path towards the end. Preparation was key, I planned my route to the mountain and up the mountain(Take the N59 out from Galway for around an hour and then take a right onto the R334 at the first crossroads take a left and follow the road until you reach the beginning of a dirt track) laid out my gear (Under-armour, 2 coats, Thermal T-shirts, Waterproofs and spare clothes) checked the weather forecast (Overcast, chance of heavy showers) and prepared food and drink ( 2 litres of water, 5 sandwiches, 2 Nutri Grain bars). I then set my alarm for half 3 in the morning and hit the hay.
I left home at half 4 in the morning, a beautiful time of day, the world is quiet and sleeping even the sun, with only the stars, my thoughts and the purring of the engine for company I sped towards Benbaun. I felt a shift in landscape as I entered the realm of the mountain peaks of the Twelve Bens. Ordinary landscape and surroundings gave way to rolling valleys wide lakes and most of all colossal mountain peaks. I had no choice but to stop the car and take in the mountain range. The moon cast a white dew along the tips of the range and rippled through the lakes beneath everything was silent bar the rare gust of wind. I reached Benbaun at 6 in the morning and set off as the sun was beginning to pierce the horizon.
The beginning of this walk is leisurely and simple it is a period on the walk in which to view and admire the climb which is to come. Having walked along the dirt path for a period it came to an end and I had to cross the river which comes flowing down from the mountain. I then continued on along the path, at this point I spotted a small solitary farm house perched on the side of the mountain in a stunning location. I continued on up past the farm house following a route up through masses of sheep after around 5 minutes of walking along this path I came across some atmospheric ruins, beautiful old structures which over time had been eroded, the sun although at this stage having risen was not visible due to the overcast conditions of the day, gentle sheets of rain were drifting down in waves, the kind of light rain that soaks you to the bone, the rain was settling on the grass and the ruins, giving the surroundings a sleek beauty. I continued on my way until I reached a gate, having cleared this gate I veered immediately left and over another gate onto open hillside, with nothing but streams and steep mountainside ahead of me.
I left home at half 4 in the morning, a beautiful time of day, the world is quiet and sleeping even the sun, with only the stars, my thoughts and the purring of the engine for company I sped towards Benbaun. I felt a shift in landscape as I entered the realm of the mountain peaks of the Twelve Bens. Ordinary landscape and surroundings gave way to rolling valleys wide lakes and most of all colossal mountain peaks. I had no choice but to stop the car and take in the mountain range. The moon cast a white dew along the tips of the range and rippled through the lakes beneath everything was silent bar the rare gust of wind. I reached Benbaun at 6 in the morning and set off as the sun was beginning to pierce the horizon.
The beginning of this walk is leisurely and simple it is a period on the walk in which to view and admire the climb which is to come. Having walked along the dirt path for a period it came to an end and I had to cross the river which comes flowing down from the mountain. I then continued on along the path, at this point I spotted a small solitary farm house perched on the side of the mountain in a stunning location. I continued on up past the farm house following a route up through masses of sheep after around 5 minutes of walking along this path I came across some atmospheric ruins, beautiful old structures which over time had been eroded, the sun although at this stage having risen was not visible due to the overcast conditions of the day, gentle sheets of rain were drifting down in waves, the kind of light rain that soaks you to the bone, the rain was settling on the grass and the ruins, giving the surroundings a sleek beauty. I continued on my way until I reached a gate, having cleared this gate I veered immediately left and over another gate onto open hillside, with nothing but streams and steep mountainside ahead of me.
I crossed a stream up ahead and made my way upwards between two streams. Having walked for a while I turned to survey the scene. Across from me in the valley was a small forest with the river I had crossed earlier flowing through it, the farmhouse was also visible in the distance but only just due to a descending fog which had begun to blanket the lower terrain at this stage I stopped for some food.
I then continued on upwards until I reached a gully which veered off towards the right I followed this upwards while quiet steep and slippery I made quick progress. Once I reached the top of the gully I was greeted by dozens of sheep looking condescendingly at me as if to say "oh first time up here congratulations" .At this stage of the climb vegetation became sparse and was replaced with scree and large boulders and rock formations, I continued on my path up towards the right to my left I could see an easier yet slower path and opted to scramble and at some points climb up the quicker scree slope. Having followed this trail for some time a small zig zag path became visible which I followed on upwards the slope became steeper and steeper as time went by, the fog made it difficult to discern weather or not I was nearing the top, each crest I scrambled over another sprouted upwards. I broke over the final crest to the summit at half 8 that morning, but the surrounding landscape was shrouded in a cape of mist and fog so thick I could only make out the summit of the peak . I made my way to the top and placed a customary rock atop the highest point. Put an extra layer of clothing on and sat down to eat and wait, Much time went by and the fog showed no sign of lifting I made my way closer to the edge of the mountain top to take a look at the valley below, to my disappointment all I saw was the same blanket of white.
But then having spent much time atop the mountain feeling the wind and listening, the fog began to lift revealing one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The surrounding mountain peaks became visible above the sea of white as small whisps of fog flowed in and out of the mountain peaks, a flowing sea perched in the sky. I sat and stared in awe as gradually the sea of fog receded more and more. small hills above the fog grew into large mountains until eventually the valley floor became visible and brought me back to reality. For a small amount if time I felt like I was completely alone living in a world no one else knew, seas of mist surrounded by dozens of peaks as the sheets of rain continued to spiral downwards and the gusts of wind died down. The view following the fog was no less beautiful but it was of no comparison to that which I had felt as the fog died away.
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| Misty view of the mountains as the curtain of fog drew back |
Having soaked the views in I packed up and made for home along the same path I had ascended. The moments on top of that mountain will remain with me forever, not a big mountain by any stretch but one of great beauty which I will never forget.
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| “This mountain, the arched back of the earth risen before us, it made me feel humble, like a beggar, just lucky to be here at all, even briefly.” ― Bridget Asher, |
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