Overview
At 702m (2,303ft), Binn idir an Dá Log is the highest point in the Maumturks, the quartzite range that walls the eastern side of Connemara. The name is Irish for ‘the peak between the two hollows’, and it earns it: the summit sits on a north-west to south-east spine between two glacial corries, a lake-filled basin on one side and a broader, grassy hollow on the other. With a prominence of 644m it counts as a Marilyn and a P600, and it ranks 52nd on the list of Ireland’s 100 highest mountains. You’ll sometimes see it called Barrslievenaroy, but that’s a townland on its lower slopes, not the mountain itself.
There is also a subsidiary peak, the SE Top, at 659m, which the longer routes take in on the way to the main cairn.
Getting to the summit
The easiest way up follows the pass of Maumahoge: roughly 6km and about three hours for an average walker. From the Maumeen road parking area the path climbs steadily, skirts the old altar carved into the rock on the Western Way, then tackles a steep, scree-covered ridge to the summit cairn. If you only do one route, this is the one to pick – shortest, clearest underfoot, and it delivers the corrie-and-lake view that makes the mountain.
For a longer day, the central Maumturks loop runs about 13km and takes five to six hours. From near the Maumeen col it climbs Binn Chaonaigh (633m), crosses the exposed ridge to the SE Top (659m), then carries on to the main summit before dropping back via Maumahoge. It needs sound route-finding and proper boots, with around 750m of ascent across the circuit.
One honest caveat: dogs aren’t allowed on the Maumeen circular, parking at the trailhead is free but limited, and there’s no shelter at all on the summit once the wind comes off the Atlantic. The quartzite is loose and the grass turns greasy when wet, especially on the steep descent.
History and the Maamturks Challenge
Early anglicised maps recorded the summit as Benadolug, but the Irish name has held in modern guidebooks and the mountaineering databases. The peak was a waypoint for local shepherds long before it became a testing ground for hillwalkers. Since 1975 the University College Galway Mountaineering Club has run the Maamturks Challenge, a 25km traverse from Maam Cross to Leenaun with about 2,316m (7,600ft) of total ascent, taking most teams 10 to 12 hours. Binn idir an Dá Log sits past the halfway mark – the summit checkpoint comes with just over half the climbing done – and walkers must clear the Lough Maumahoge checkpoint by 2pm, a hard cut-off that keeps people off the exposed sections after dark.
Geology and landscape
The Maumturks are built on ancient quartzite, with grits and a graphitic bedrock capping the tops. The quartzite weathers to a pale, sparkling surface in sunlight and shapes the sharp ridges and steep corries. Thin, well-drained soil supports a hardy flora of heather, bell heather and mosses clinging to the rock. You may spot peregrines riding the updrafts above the corries, and deer graze the sheltered valleys below. The crag below and west of Lough Maumahoge gives rock climbers routes of 90 to 190m at grades from Severe to Hard Very Severe – a quiet, serious venue rather than a roadside crag.
Practical information for walkers
Navigation and maps
The summit is on OSi Discovery sheet 37. The grid reference is L88819 52827. Carry a physical map and compass: mobile signal drops above the treeline and weather can turn quickly. GPS tracks are widely available, with useful waypoints at the col and the Lough Maumahoge checkpoint.
Seasonal conditions and timing
The trail sees walkers year-round, with the best window running January through October. June is by far the busiest month, accounting for about a third of recorded ascents. The ridge gets slick on wet grass, so most experienced walkers go up in the morning and are off the steep ground before afternoon cloud rolls in.
Safety
This is risk-sport terrain: exposed ridges, loose quartzite, steep grass. Bring waterproofs, sturdy boots and a basic first-aid kit, check the Met Éireann forecast, and be ready to turn back. There’s no rescue base on the mountain, though the Irish Mountain Rescue Service covers the area.
Getting there and nearby
From Galway city the N59 runs west past Maam Cross, where a signposted turn leads onto the Maumeen road and the parking area. The nearest services – cafés, toilets, accommodation – are at Leenaun and Maam Cross. Public transport to the trailhead is effectively non-existent, so plan on driving; the closest international gateway is Ireland West Airport Knock, about 80km away.
Start early to beat the afternoon cloud, and pack a wind shell even on a clear morning. The ridge catches the sun fast, but the top gives you nothing to hide behind when the wind gets up.