Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

Summary: The popular Diamond Hill Loop in Connemara National Park offers great views from the 442m peak over the Ballynakill Harbour, Kylemore Lough and the Twelve Bens.

Trailhead: Connemara National Park Information Centre, Letterfrack
Distance: 7.2km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy
395m total ascent
Route type: Partial Loop
Best season/s: All year
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-galway/connemara-and-diamond-hill-loop
Dogs Allowed
No mountain bikes

After the morning’s cold and wet Croagh Patrick hike, the weather has improved and the sun threatens to make an appearance for my afternoon hike over Diamond Hill. A popular route in Connemara National Park, Diamond Hill is part of the Twelve Bens (or Twelve Pins) mountain range and offers easy hiking with some great views. I’m doing the longer Lower and Upper Diamond Hill Loop, which starts from the Connemara National Park carpark and initially follows a paved path that forms the lower loop.

IMG 6297 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6300 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

As the trail gains elevation there’s a view of Diamond Hill ahead, and Ballinakill harbour below.

IMG 6303 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6304 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

There’s quite a few people on the trail – Diamond Hill is the second-most popular walk in Ireland after Croagh Patrick (according to the Irish Times).

IMG 6310 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6311 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

After about 2km the trail reaches the start of the loop section that traverses the top of Diamond Hill, and the signs and arrow request that you do the loop in a clockwise direction. I’ve no idea why. Maybe because the walk can get busy it’s safer if everyone walks in the same direction. There seems no real reason to ignore the advice, so in an unusual display of hiking compliance I set off clockwisedly up the mountain.

IMG 6312 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6316 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

This is probably the best section of the hike, as the trail starts ascending the eastern side of the peak.

IMG 6319 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6332 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

A vantage point about halfway up provides a great view over the national park and harbour to the west.

The route gets much steeper as it zig-zags up the side of Diamond Hill, but it’s still a very good trail all the way up.

IMG 6343 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6346 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

A narrow quartzite summit-ridge leads to the Diamond Hill peak, which offers sweeping views despite being only 442m in height. (Diamond Hill is classed as a Marilyn – which is a lower ranking than an Arderin or a Vandeleur-Lynam. It’s a measure of peaks created by Alan Dawson in his 1992 book The Relative Hills of Britain that takes into account prominence as well as elevation.)

IMG 6352 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6355 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

From the summit there’s a view to the west of Ballynakill Harbour, Tully Mountain (the peak on the right) and the Atlantic coast.

IMG 6361 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

To the north-east is Kylemore Lough and Kylemore Abbey.

IMG 6359 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

Polladirk Valley and the many peaks of the Twelve Bens lies to the south-east – the highest peak is Benbaun or Binn Bhán at 729 metres (2,392 ft).

peakvisor photo Diamond Hill Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

The descent on the eastern side of Diamond Hill is much less steep than the ascent, and while the views are a lot less spectacular you get nice views of Kylemore Lough.

IMG 6378 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6379 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

As the trail swings around the northern side of Diamond Hill, there’s a great view of the Twelve Bens again…

IMG 6381 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6383 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

…and then Ballynakill Harbour.

IMG 6386 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6387 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

Rather than returning the same way, I continue along the other half of the Lower Diamond Hill Loop to return to the carpark.

IMG 6395 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

IMG 6397 LR Sweeping views on the Diamond Hill loop

It’s taken me about 2.5 hours to complete the loop; although parts of the climb up to the top of the peak are steep it’s a fairly easy walk on a very good track that delivers some great views (despite the still slightly overcast weather).

Getting to Diamond Hill

The start of the Diamond Hill Loop walk is a 25-minute drive from Ballynahinch, and few minutes from the village of Letterfrack to Connemara National Park. All of the hiking routes are well sign-posted, and the national park has an information and a Tea Room which serves drinks, cakes, sandwiches and soups. Both the upper and lower loops are popular, so if possible start early or late in the day to avoid thew crowds.