Binn na mBan
A windy hike around Binn na mBan and Cnoc na mBristi in the Dingle peninsula
Parked at a decent sized car park at Ballynahow (Q 433 124) which is one of the main carparks when approacing from this side of the Brandon Range. Its on the Dingle way and parking is not an issue.
Looking towards the mountains i wasn’t holding out much hope for Masatiompan due to the cloud cover. Over the course of the day, it appeared, infrequently, but only for a short while. That would have been a bonus as my main aim was the tick Binn na mBan off my list.
It’s one of the coastal hills along this stretch of the Peninsula, starting at Ceann Sibéal and coming back to The Three Sisters, BallyDavid Head and Beenmore.
View from Brandon Creek towards the two peaks
Started up thru the gate and immediately went on the left track, so effectively leaving the main Dingle way route. You can see Binn na mBan from the car park so its just a question of picking your way thru bog/field over towards it. You can follow a wall up ot the ridge, but similar to Ballydavid head the last time, i had to retrace my steps a bit when i got to the top just to get the views. I met a extremly nice farmer and we had a good chat for a while. He had three sheep dogs with him, they were all frienldy and one of them was a stunner, i wish i got a picture of him.
Farmer with his three dogs walking across the field.
Getting to the top is no bother, there are steep cliffs along some of the way, but nothing dangerous as long as you’re not being a clown. The wind up here was relentless. The anenometer toped 60km gust at one stage, but the sustained wind was around the 50km/h mark for a while. You could see the showers coming across to nail you, happened twice and once i was caught in the open, so just had to grin and bare it. The rainbows afterwards were nice tho.
After a quick break it was nice walk up to the suprise of the day, Cnoc na mBristi. As i said in the video, it looks like a really intersting place. I would definitley recommend giving a call to it, either on the way from Binn na mBan upwards or if coming down from Más. Its pretty much just off the path after one of the gates.
View. from Cnoc na mBristi looking towards Binn na mBan
Then on down to the Beehive huts. I would definitiely recommend doing these before getting to the top of Binn na mBan as the way i went in the video is definitely not the most optimal. I was in no rush tho, so made no ends to me on the day.
The full loop was about 8km, and when the weather is bad up higher its really is a great alternative
Overall it was a really enjoyable day and one of the easier walks along the coast with no gorse and managelable heather and bog.
Ed
