Irish academic Paul Tempan notes that Garraun is clearly a name of Irish origin, either from garrán, meaning "grove", or more likely from géarán, meaning "fang"; while the summit is flat, the eastern ridge leading to it is sharp enough to have merited such a name. Tim Robinson notes that Maolchnoc, meaning "bald hill", is the more common name in the area; it more correctly describes the shape of the summit of Garraun; while An Géarán likely refers to the sharp eastern ridge that descends to Lough Fee. Tempan notes that the townland on the south slopes of Garraun South Top, that runs to Kylemore Lough, is called "Lemnaheltia", and this name appears on Mercator's map of Ireland as Dosleape for the mountain. A legend tells of Fionn Mac Cumhail's dog Bran, who pursued a doe in this area, however, when the doe leapt from the summit, Bran fell from the cliff into the lake. Many Irish places claim variations of this story, including "Lough Brin" south of the MacGillycuddy Reeks, in Kerry.
Geography
Garraun is a flat featureless summit that lies on its own isolated massif close to the entrance to Killary Harbour, Ireland largest fjord, and is part of the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex special area of conservation in Connemara; the Garraun massif is considered part of the Twelve Bensmountain range. To the west of Garraun, via a high ridge, is the subsidiary peak of Garraun South Top, which overlooks Kylemore Lough, and whose prominence of qualifies it as an Arderin. Further west, is the sharp summit of Garraun South-West Top, whose prominence of qualifies it as an Arderin Beg. Garraun South-West Top is marked "Altnagaighera", on some maps. Altnagaighera is noted for its conglomerateTors that are scattered around its summit. Further southwest again, lies the double-top summit of Doughruagh , which directly overlooks Kylemore Abbey, and whose prominence of qualifies it as an Arderin, and a Marilyn. Half-way up the south face of Doughraugh, on very steep ground, is a statue of the Sacred Heart, erected in 1932 by the Benedictine nuns of Kylemore Abbey, in thanks for their safe delivery from their previous home in Ypres in Belgium, which they had to abandon during World War One. East of Garraun is a long sharp spur, leading to Lough Fee. To the north of Garraun is Benchoona , whose prominence of qualifies it as an Arderin. Benchoona has a subsidiary peak, Benchoona East Top , whose prominence of qualifies it as an Arderin Beg. Robert Macfarlane described Benchoona's summit as "a rough broken tableland of flat rocks, perhaps a quarter of an acre in area, and planed smooth by the old ice". Garraun has two satellite peaks. To the east, across Lough Fee, is the isolated peak of Letterettrin , which is also called Binn Mhór, and whose prominence of qualifies it as a Marilyn. To the west is Currywongaun .
Hill walking
The most straightforward route to climb Gaurran is via its sharp east spur at Lough Fee; the 5-kilometre 2.5-hour round trip uses the car-park at the distinctively roofed Creeragh Church, off the N59 road. Another recommended trail is the 9-kilometre 4-hour Lettergesh Loop or Benchoona Horseshoe, that starts from Lettergesh Beach in the car-park at Carrickglass, taking the path to Cloonagh, and climbing a loop around Benchoona, Garraun, and Garraun South-West Top before returning via Cloonagh. Various other 8-10 kilometre 4-5 hour routes, take in the summit of Doughruagh, and the shores of Kylemore Lough and Pollacappul Lough, in a loop with Garraun and Altnagaighera.
