Benbulben
Northwest Ireland | County Sligo
Benbulben (irish: "Binn Ghulbain"), also known as "Table Mountain" is a large rock formation (526 m high), in Dartry Mountains, County Sligo. Its unique shape was formed during the ice age, approximately 320 million years ago, and it's composed mostly of limestone. It also has unique variety of plants, including many Arctic–alpine plants. Benbulben often appears in old irish legends and also is known as inspiration of one of the greatest Irish poets, Nobel Prize laureate, William Butler Yeats, who is buried at the foot of the mountain, in the village of Drumcliff.
There is no proper marked path leading to the summit, but there are few alternative trails. Access from the southern mountainside is limited by local farmers, who often forbid entering their lands. However, there is easy path from other side. Driving in Donegal direction, take first left after village of Grange and drive towards mountains. You will get to bog fields, drive up track over river and park. Here slope is easing and it is not difficult to reach the mountain's top, but it requires good physical condition and be prepared for the heavily eroded and boggy terrain during the fist part of hiking. Reaching the summit rewards with stunning view of the rest of the Dartry Mountains and Slieve League, County Donegal, in the distance.
- CAR PARK:
- ROADSIDE
- GPS COORDINATES:
- Latitude: N 54 22.368
- Longitude: W 8 27.852
Photos from Benbulben
