Diamond Hill (Ireland)

Diamond Hill
Binn Ghuaire
Diamond Hill from Connemara National Park visitor centre.
Highest point
Elevation 442 m (1,450 ft) [1]
Prominence 277 m (909 ft) [1]
Listing Marilyn
Coordinates 53°32′53.93″N 9°54′52.20″W / 53.5483139°N 9.9145000°W / 53.5483139; -9.9145000Coordinates: 53°32′53.93″N 9°54′52.20″W / 53.5483139°N 9.9145000°W / 53.5483139; -9.9145000 [1]
Naming
Translation Guaire's peak (Irish)
Geography
Diamond Hill
OSI/OSNI grid L67272
Climbing
First ascent ancestral
Easiest route Hike

Diamond Hill (Irish: Binn Ghuaire, meaning "Guaire's peak")[2] is a large hill south-east of Letterfrack in County Galway, Ireland.

Geography

Diamond Hill from Kylemore Lough.
Diamond Hill in October 1987.
The summit - August 2013

The 442-metre (1,450 ft) high hill stands in a prominent position between the Ballinakill harbour (West) and the Twelve Bens range (East).

The top of the hill hosts a large cairn. It offers a view on a long stretch of Irish Atlantic coast, the Twelve Bens and the isles of Inishboffin and Inishark.[3]

Name

The English meaning of Binn Ghuaire is Guaire's peak; it is uncertain which Guaire is meant; it very likely relates to the surname rather than to the seventh-century king of Connachta, Guaire Aidni. The hill was also known as Bengooria, an anglicized form of the Irish name.[4]

Access to the summit

The walk which leads from the National Park visitor centre (Letterfrack) up to the summit does not require any special hiking ability, but is advisable wearing a proper outdoor clothing and being reasonably well trained.[5] The complete signposed walk is composed of a lower Diamond Hill Walk (3 km long) and an Upper Diamond Hill Walk (3.7 km long) which reaches the summit.[6] Diamond Hill is a popular walking destination and attracts both Irish hikers and foreign tourists.[3]

Conservation

Diamond hill and its surrounding area is part of the Connemara National Park.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Twelve Bens Area". MountainViews. Ordnance Survey Ireland. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Binn Ghuaire". Placenames Database of Ireland. Dublin City University. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Christopher Somerville (August 28, 2010). "Walk of the week: Diamond Hill, Connemara, Co Galway". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ Paul Tempan (February 2012). Irish Hill and Mountain Names (PDF). Mountaineering.ie. Mountaineering Ireland. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Guided Walks from Walk Connemara". Walk Connemara. Paul Phelan. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ Connemara National Park Trails (PDF). Connemara National Park. Connemara National Park. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
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