The Gleann Eidhneach Half Horseshoe

This is one of the classiest walks in Connemara. It is an advanced route and should be attempted only by people who have gained considerable mountaineering experience. It includes one of the most spectacular ridge walks in the area offering fantastic views of the Glaciated peaks and valleys of the Bens.
This route includes the following peaks:

• Binn Dhubh (698m)
• Binn an tSaighdiúra (700m)
• Binn an Choire Bhig (582m)

Access to this valley is on the small road, off the main road in the Inagh Valley at L820562. Parking is available along the main road. There is no parking available on the small road which leads into Gleann Eidhneach itself.

Route Description

The route begins beyond the gate west of the farm house. Follow the path below the sheep fold at L813564 and continue along the valley floor of Gleann Eidhneach, for approximately 0.5 km. Continue walking on the right hand side, uphill of the Gleann Eidhneach river until you eventually ascend up a large terminal moraine below the East face of Binn Bhán. This leads to a sheep trail which crosses the deep bed of the stream at L796538, which flows below the East side of Binn Bhán. Continue on this trail towards Mám Eidhneach, the col between Binn Bhan and Binn Dhubh.

From the col, continue further South Westwards for a couple of minutes. Turn left up the East face of Binn Dhubh .From here the route gets considerably more difficult and involves some scrambling from time to time. After about 150 meters the route gets considerably easier. Continue towards the summit in a North Easterly direction. The view from the summit over the Derry Clare Horseshoe on the South West, and Gleann Eidhneach immediately below you on the East, are spectacular. From here decend Eastwards towards the next peak Binn an tSaighdiúra (the peak of the Soldier). This involved a decent of 240 m followed by an ascent of 250 m. Following Binn an tSaighdiúra continue North towards Binn an Choire Bhig at 583 meters. This involves some steep scrambling en route, around a pinnacle above Carrot Ridge at L814532.

From Binn an Choire Bhig descend to Gleann Eidhneach in a Northerly direction. There are quite alot of large boulders and some small cliffs to be negotiated on the upper slope. The walk from the bottom of the spur across the valley floor can be quite wet, particularly in winter time. Use the sheep pen or the farmhouse as a bearing. Care should be taken when crossing the river. It is normally quite shallow, but can become swollen during heavy rainfall. Finally the path below the sheep fold is reached, which will lead you back to the car park.