Binn Gorm

Duration Distance Parking Start Ascent Map Level of Difficulty
2.5 to 3 hours 7 km Car Park at Aasleigh Falls L894644 750 m O.S.M Sheet 37 Level 2

 

Brief Description

This is a classy 3 hour ridge walk around the corrie of Binn Gorm. The climb gets steeper from about 300 meters, with a number of small shoulders to be negotiated towards the summit. In good weather it is a fairly safe walk. However, one should be aware of the steep gullies and cliffs that form the backwalls of the corrie. Fantastic views of Killary Harbour await you at the summit, (in good weather of course!).

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Route Description

Binn Gorm is situated at the Eastern end of Killary Harbour, Irelands only fjord. It is not part of any of the main mountain range in this area, the Sheeffry range.

The route begins at the carpark at Aasleigh falls. Continue along the fence which runs uphill over rough pasture,perpendicular to the main road, towards the East ridge of Ben Gorm. It takes approximately 25 minutes to get onto the ridge. Once you have negotiated the ridge ascend in a Westerly direction towards the upper ridge. This is a fairly steep climb, having to negotiate a few shoulders and a number of small hillocks above the 500 meter contour. Once you have negotiated the ridge continue across a boggy plateau for almost 1 km until you reach the cairn that marks the true summit of Binn Gorm.

The decent is directly East from the cairn, a distance of 1 km, towards a ridge which is 2 km in length. There is an excellent view of the cliffs that form the corrie of Binn Gorm at the upper slopes of this ridge. The decent along this ridge is in a North Easterly direction for about 1.6 km. You now turn south and descend into the valley crossing the Lugayeran River at L886654 and then cross the original ridge, before the final decent to the car park.

I recommend both Gaynor's pub and Hamilton's pub, both in Leenane, for refreshments. Fresh sandwiches, and chocolate can be bought in Hamilton's shop, which is useful if you want to bring some food supplies with you when you set out for your walk.