| Benlettery | |
| Other Name: | Binn Leitrí |
| Elevation M: | 577 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence M: | 62 |
| Translation: | Peak of the Wet Hillsides |
| Listing: | Arderin |
| Location: | County Galway, Ireland |
| Range: | Twelve Bens |
| Map: | Ireland |
| Label Position: | right |
| Map Size: | 240 |
| Coordinates: | 53.4818°N -9.8453°W |
| Grid Ref Ireland: | L7754649537 |
| Topo: | OSi Discovery 44 |
| Geology: | Pale quartzites, grits, graphitic bedrock |
Benlettery [2] at 557m (1,827feet), is the 259th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale.[3] [4] [5] Benlettery is in the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland, and is the 11th-tallest of the core Twelve Bens.[5] [6] The Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel is on the southern slopes of Benlettery, off the N59 road to Clifden.[7]
According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, the townland of Lettery (ga|Leitrí, meaning "wet hillsides") is on the south slope of Benlettery.[2] Tempan notes an alternative name of Bindowglass or "Bendouglas" (ga|Binn Dúghlais, meaning "peak of the black stream") was recorded as early as 1684 by Irish historian Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh.[2] Ó Flaithbheartaigh chronicled about a pool of water on the summit which turns the hair white of anyone who washes in it.[2]
Benlettery is the southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens and lies at its western edge. Benlettery is connected to the range by a high northerly ridge to the peak of Bengower 664m (2,178feet);[5] this ridge forms a fork which also connects neighboring Benglenisky 516m (1,693feet) to Bengower.[5] Benlettery is one of the six Bens that form a horseshoe around the valley of the Glencoaghan River (also known as the Glencoaghan Horseshoe).
Unlike most of the other main Bens, Benlettery is below 600-metres in elevation, however, its relative positioning at the southern end of the range, and its "pyramidal" summit (when viewed from the south), means that is often featured as a scenic backdrop to the Ballynahinch Castle and the Ballynahinch Lake.
On the southern slopes of Benlettery is the 40-bed "Ben Lettery Connemara Youth Hostel" (Benlettery spelt as two words), owned and operated by An Oige, the Irish YHA;[7] [8] it was ranked by Outside.ie as one of the ten best An Oige youth hostels in Ireland.[9]
As with Derryclare 677m (2,221feet), on the east side of the Glencoaghan Horseshoe, Benlettery's accessibility makes is a popular peak as a standalone 5-kilometre 2-3 hour climb (starting and ending at the Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel); however, the high ridge Benlettery shares with the peaks of Bengower and Benglenisky, means that it is also climbed as part a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with these peaks.[10] [11] [12]
Benlettery is part of the 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks;[13] [14] and of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits.[15]