Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore up Mweelrea: route map, distance and time
815 m · South Mayo and Central Galway · OS grid L789668
Mweelrea is the highest mountain in Connacht, a massive horseshoe of ridges between Killary Harbour and Doo Lough in south-west Mayo.
A steep climb gains Ben Bury, then the ridge narrows over Ben Lugmore with drops into the coum before the final rise to Mweelrea.
Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore at a glance
| Distance | 10.6 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 1,063 m |
| Time up | 3h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 6h 0m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Delphi, at the head of Fin Lough |
| Summit grid reference | L789668 |
Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
How long Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 3h 55m | 6h 0m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 4h 45m | 7h 25m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 08:12, sunset 18:36. Start by 11:36 to be down before dark, allowing 6h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 08:14, sunset 18:34. Start by 11:34 to be down before dark, allowing 6h 0m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Mweelrea summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Mweelrea right now. The main Mweelrea page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Mweelrea forecast.
About Mweelrea
Mweelrea is the highest mountain in Connacht, a massive horseshoe of ridges between Killary Harbour and Doo Lough in south-west Mayo. More about Mweelrea, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Marilyn, Arderin, Vandeleur-Lynam, historic county top, county top.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Ben Lugmore West Top (792 m), 1.8 km north-east
- Ben Bury (794 m), 1.9 km north-east
- Ben Lugmore (803 m), 2.3 km east
- Ben Lugmore East Top (792 m), 2.6 km east
Challenges that include Mweelrea
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location, what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore: questions and answers
How far is Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore?
Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore is 10.6 km one way to the summit of Mweelrea, with 1,063 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 21.2 km.
How long does Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore take?
About 3h 55m to the summit of Mweelrea and 6h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 7h 25m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore?
Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore starts from Delphi, at the head of Fin Lough.
Is Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore today?
By 11:36 at the latest. Sunset on Mweelrea today is 18:36, Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore takes about 6h 0m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Delphi via Ben Bury and Ben Lugmore?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).