Corbett · North-West Highlands
Beinn Lair
Beinn Lair is the high point of the Letterewe Forest, a vast tract of empty country north of Loch Maree and east of Loch Maree. At 859m it is a hill of exceptional geological interest — the north face above Lochan Fada is the famous Marble Slabs, a vertical wall of clean grey hornblende-schist that rivals the great cliffs of the Cairngorms for rock-climbing. The summit is a slender ridge with a striking 3m-high cairn looking down 800m to the head of Loch Maree.
Quick facts
- Height
- 859m/ 2818ft
- Prominence
- 455 m
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 756 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG981732
- Parking
- NG858808
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 74km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
stalkers path 40% · rough moor 25% · shoulder climb 25% · narrow summit 10%
No short option. The classic line is from the road end at Poolewe, taking the path past Kernsary to Lochan Fada — around 12km of stalkers track and rough moor each way before climbing onto the hill itself. Alternative entry from Kinlochewe via Incheril and the Heights of Kinlochewe path is slightly shorter. From the loch, climb the south-east shoulder of Beinn Lair to the cairn. Around 30km plus and 756m of ascent — a long day or an overnight expedition.
Terrain
The Kernsary stalkers path stays good underfoot for the opening miles of the approach. Beyond Lochan Fada the ground is pathless rough heather and bog with hidden burns. The climb onto the hill is steep grass and broken rock; the summit ridge itself is narrow with one exposed section above the Marble Slabs cliff. Keep well back from the north edge in mist — the drop is unforgiving.
In winter
A serious expedition in winter — the long approach, remoteness from any road and the exposed north-side cliffs combine to make this a hill for experienced winter mountaineers only. The Marble Slabs hold winter ice and are an established climbing venue. Avoid the north edge of the summit ridge under snow; cornicing is consistent. Most parties carry bivvy kit or use Carnmore bothy.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 10m
- Edinburgh5h 33m
OS maps: OS Landranger 19
Mobile signal: No signal in Letterewe; Poolewe village has reliable coverage
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:41
- Sunset
- 22:14
- Civil dawn
- 03:37
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Lair.
Around Beinn Lair on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn Lair — common questions
- Is Beinn Lair a hard climb?
- Beinn Lair is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 756m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Ground conditions: The Kernsary stalkers path stays good underfoot for the opening miles of the approach.
- How much drop does Beinn Lair have?
- The drop is 455m: measured from the summit of Beinn Lair down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Beinn Lair?
- Park at NG858808 near Ullapool. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Beinn Lair?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Beinn Lair. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Beinn Lair?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Beinn Lair?
- No signal in Letterewe; Poolewe village has reliable coverage
- Is Beinn Lair safe in winter?
- A serious expedition in winter — the long approach, remoteness from any road and the exposed north-side cliffs combine to make this a hill for experienced winter mountaineers only. The Marble Slabs hold winter ice and are an established climbing venue. Avoid the north edge of the summit ridge under snow; cornicing is consistent. Most parties carry bivvy kit or use Carnmore bothy.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.