Corbett · North-West Highlands
Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)
Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard — usually written Bhathaich Ard but locally pronounced like "vach-ard" — is the easternmost Corbett of the Strathfarrar group, rising in isolation above the entrance to the glen near Struy. The 862m summit carries a trig point on a broad rocky top and looks south down Strathglass to the Beauly basin and north over the four Munros of upper Strathfarrar. Access is via Struy on the A831, outside the locked-gate stretch of Strathfarrar itself, so no permit issues apply.
Gaelic: “mountain, of the, high, of the” · Pronunciation: bine uh bhathaich art (beinn uh bha' ach ard)
Quick facts
- Height
- 862m/ 2828ft
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 759 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH360434
- Parking
- NH404403
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
estate track 30% · open heather 25% · broad ridge 35% · summit trig 10%
Park in the lay-by just east of Struy bridge on the A831 and follow the estate track north up Glen Orrin, then climb west onto the broad south-east ridge of Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard. The ridge gives a long gradual pull on grass and heather to the summit trig. Day totals about 15km with 759m up. The hill is normally tackled on its own; the Strathfarrar Munros across the glen require a separate permit and earlier start.
Terrain
The Glen Orrin track is firm to its end above the river. Off the track the ground is short heather, mossy grass and patches of bog; the going is generally good but slow. The broad south-east ridge is a single uniform pull with no tricky features. The summit area is small rocky outcrops around the trig pillar. No exposure or scrambling.
In winter
A friendlier winter hill than the Strathfarrar Munros across the glen — broad slopes hold snow but with little avalanche risk and no cornicing on the rounded ridge. The Glen Orrin track is generally clear; access at Struy itself is reliable. Short daylight is the main limiter. The summit trig in deep snow makes a clear landmark.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 27m
- Edinburgh4h 41m
OS maps: OS Landranger 26
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Struy; fades quickly into Glen Orrin
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:32
- Sunset
- 22:01
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
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Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard) — common questions
- How hard is Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)?
- Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard) is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 759m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Glen Orrin track is firm to its end above the river.
- Where do I park for Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)?
- Standard parking is at NH404403 near Inverness. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard) are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard)?
- Reasonable signal at Struy; fades quickly into Glen Orrin
- Is Beinn a' Bhathaich Ard (Beinn a' Bha' ach Ard) safe in winter?
- A friendlier winter hill than the Strathfarrar Munros across the glen — broad slopes hold snow but with little avalanche risk and no cornicing on the rounded ridge. The Glen Orrin track is generally clear; access at Struy itself is reliable. Short daylight is the main limiter. The summit trig in deep snow makes a clear landmark.