Description
Probably one of Ireland's most striking mountains is Benbulben. With its height of 526m , Benbulben can be spotted from all around County Sligo.
Benbulben was shaped during the ice age when Ireland was buried underneath glaciers. When the glaciers moved, they shaped the plateau into its distinct formation as we know it today.
Benbulben really stands out with its distinctive large flat-top, making it into Ireland's table top mountain. It forms part of the Dartry mountains. Benbulben is home to a huge variety of plants, some of which can nowhere else be found in Ireland. Many of the plant on the top are arctic-alpine plants which are robust enough to survive the harsh climate.
Deep within the Dartry mountains is Benbulben Barite mine. Once a busy underground world used to unearth barite, the work has long halted and the mines have been closed. While the buildings are long gone, the mine has left old disused mineshaft which are too dangerous to enter (and located on private land) and old rusty pylons and wire ropes once used to transport the barite down the mountain.
One of the legends surrounding Benbulben is al that against the flanks of this majestic mountain, a "fairy door" can be seen which provides the fairies with an entrance to our world. And it is claimed that it is the only place in ireland where fairies are visible to mortals. Even the poet WB Yeats wrote about this famous door referring to it as a white square in the limestone. Who knows, for you to find it and find those dancing fairies.
Facilities:
Small car park at Luke's bridge
Walk/climb:
More information
Benbulben was shaped during the ice age when Ireland was buried underneath glaciers. When the glaciers moved, they shaped the plateau into its distinct formation as we know it today.
Benbulben really stands out with its distinctive large flat-top, making it into Ireland's table top mountain. It forms part of the Dartry mountains. Benbulben is home to a huge variety of plants, some of which can nowhere else be found in Ireland. Many of the plant on the top are arctic-alpine plants which are robust enough to survive the harsh climate.
Deep within the Dartry mountains is Benbulben Barite mine. Once a busy underground world used to unearth barite, the work has long halted and the mines have been closed. While the buildings are long gone, the mine has left old disused mineshaft which are too dangerous to enter (and located on private land) and old rusty pylons and wire ropes once used to transport the barite down the mountain.
One of the legends surrounding Benbulben is al that against the flanks of this majestic mountain, a "fairy door" can be seen which provides the fairies with an entrance to our world. And it is claimed that it is the only place in ireland where fairies are visible to mortals. Even the poet WB Yeats wrote about this famous door referring to it as a white square in the limestone. Who knows, for you to find it and find those dancing fairies.
Facilities:
Small car park at Luke's bridge
Walk/climb:
More information
Location
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