Letterbreckaun is the second-highest of the Maumturks at 667 m (2,188 ft), and the one that catches the eye from the range: seen from the Inagh Valley to the west, it rises in a sharp quartzite pyramid while its neighbours stay rounded and grey. It clears enough ground to count as a Marilyn, with 322 m of prominence, and from the top you get the Twelve Bens, the glacial trench of Killary Harbour, the empty Glenloosh Valley and, away to the east, Binn idir an Dá Log, the range’s high point.
The catch is navigation. These are open, un-waymarked hills, and the routes onto Letterbreckaun run over rock and bog with no signs and patchy phone signal. On a clear day it’s a superb walk. In cloud it’s a map-and-compass exercise, and not one for a first hill day.
Naming and history
The name is Leitir Breacáin, ‘Brecan’s hillside’ (the summit is also called Binn Bhriocáin, ‘Brecan’s peak’). Saint Brecan, a 5th-century figure linked to County Galway and remembered as a successor to Saint Enda of Aran, gives his name to the mountain and the townland below it. About a kilometre north, where the steep col of Maam Turk (Mám Tuirc, ‘pass of the boar’) drops toward the Inagh Valley, a small stone-lined holy well sits at the foot of the ridge; the historian Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh recorded it in 1684 as standing ‘in memorie of St. Fechin’.
Summit routes
Letterbreckaun is reached over unmarked tracks and rocky ridges. Route choice comes down to your fitness, your time and your appetite for rough ground.
| Route | Length | Approx. time | Ascent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maam Turk pass (direct) | 6 km | 2–3 h | 760 m |
| Maamahoge Loop (south to north) | 14 km | 5–6 h | 800 m |
| Maamturks Challenge (full ridge) | 25 km | 10–12 h | ~2,300 m |
The direct ascent from the Inagh Valley, up the Maam Turk col and along the quartzite ridge to the summit, is the most straightforward way up. For a bigger day, the Maamahoge Loop starts at the southern col, climbs neighbouring Knocknahillion, follows a winding rocky spine and drops back via Maam Turk. Whichever you pick, the ground is rough and the line is yours to find.
The Maamturks Challenge
Since 1975 the University of Galway Mountaineering Club has run the Maamturks Challenge Walk, a 25 km traverse of the whole ridge from Maam Cross to Leenaun, graded ‘extreme’ for its cumulative ascent of around 7,600 ft. Letterbreckaun’s summit is an official checkpoint, so everyone who finishes has stood on it. It’s open to the public but needs prior registration, real fitness and navigation experience.
Geology and landscape
The mountain’s shape comes from its rock: hard, pale quartzite that shrugs off erosion far better than the softer ground around it, which is what has left the sharp, glinting ridge running to Knocknahillion. In sunshine it catches the light and doubles as a marker from the valley floor. The contrast with the grassier, sandstone-based mass of Leenaun Hill to the north sums up the mixed geology of the Maumturks.
Navigation and safety
The Maumturk routes are largely un-waymarked, so navigation falls to cairns, natural features and careful map reading. The OSi Discovery Series 1:50,000 sheet 37 (Connemara) covers the ground; many walkers add a GPS or trail app, though reception can drop in the deep col of Maam Turk. A few things worth knowing before you set out:
- Terrain: the quartzite gives firm footing when dry but turns slick when wet or frosted. Trekking poles help.
- Weather: Connemara’s Atlantic exposure means fast shifts in wind, rain and visibility. Pack layered waterproofs and spare insulation.
- Winter: from about December to March, snow and ice sit on the ridge. It’s a summit for people confident with crampons and an ice axe only.
- Communication: signal is unreliable on the high ground, so carry a charged phone, a paper map, and consider a locator beacon for solo or off-season trips.
Practical information
The Maumturks are open commonage, not part of Connemara National Park (that’s the Twelve Bens, to the west), so there’s no gate and nothing to pay. Access is usually from the Inagh Valley; parking is free, but the trailhead is an informal lay-by rather than a signed car park, so arrive early in summer to be sure of a space. There are no toilets, shelters or refreshments on the hill, so carry water, food and a basic first-aid kit.
For maps, a weather steer or an exhibit on the local geology before you head up, the Connemara National Park visitor centre at Letterfrack is the nearest resource, though from 1 July 2026 it closes on Mondays and Tuesdays (bank-holiday Mondays aside).
Best time to visit: May, June and September usually give the most settled weather and the longest days. Winter walkers should plan for short daylight and severe conditions.
Getting there:
- By car: drive west from Galway city on the N59 into Connemara and follow signs for the Inagh Valley.
- Public transport: buses stop at Maam Cross, from where you’ll need a taxi or a long walk to the start.
Nearby attractions
- Maam Cross – a historic crossroads village with a café, pub and accommodation, the traditional staging post for Maumturk walkers.
- Inagh Valley – a sheltered valley with gentler walks, birdwatching and direct access to the Maam Turk col.
- Connemara National Park Visitor Centre – at Letterfrack, with trail maps, weather information and exhibits on local geology and wildlife.
Check the mountain forecast, and the level of the river you may need to cross in the Inagh Valley, before you set out, and start early: cloud tends to build over the ridge by afternoon.