What difficulty is Beinn Leoid?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Leoid comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 14km and 649m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Terrain: Estate tracks give a firm approach.

How prominent is Beinn Leoid?

Beinn Leoid has 498m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.

Where should I park to climb Beinn Leoid?

Standard parking is at NC303256 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.

When should I climb Beinn Leoid?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn Leoid are May, June, July, August, September. 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 Leoid?

On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.

By Gary

Photo: Andrew Tryon / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Corbett · Far North

Beinn Leoid

Beinn Leoid is a quiet 792m Corbett in the lonely centre of Sutherland, between Loch More and Loch Merkland. A 498m prominence puts it well clear of its neighbours, and it offers one of the empties feeling summits in the country — a boulder cairn on a wide rolling top with views in every direction across deer forest and lochan-studded moor. The hill is rarely visited; on most days the only company is a sea eagle or a herd of stags.

Quick facts

Height: 792m/ 2598ft
Prominence: 498 m
Distance: ~14 km
Ascent: ~649 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 2 / 5Moderate
Grid ref: NC320294
Parking: NC303256
Nearest: Ullapool· Inverness 91km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

estate track 30% · peat moor 35% · broad ridge 25% · boulder cairn 10%

14km · 649m ascent · 3.9 hrs

Start from the lay-by on the A838 at the south end of Loch More and follow the rough estate track south-east toward Aultanrynie. After roughly 4km, leave the track and climb pathless heather and short-grass slopes north onto the broad south ridge of Beinn Leoid. Around 14km return with 649m of ascent. The hill is normally a single-summit day; the surrounding country is wild trackless moor.

Terrain

Estate tracks give a firm approach. Off the track the ground is wet peat and tussock — slow walking, but never technical. The summit dome is wide mossy turf with a substantial boulder cairn at the high point. There is no exposure or scrambling. The west face above Loch More holds small crag bands; keep east of the marked summit on descent.

In winter

A long winter day in remote far-north country. Gentle gradients and no avalanche concerns but the open ground offers nothing for shelter and the daylight is short above 58°N. The A838 is generally kept open along the loch. Phone signal is absent throughout; carry full emergency kit.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Leoid. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow5h 6m
Edinburgh5h 14m

Parking: NC303256

OS maps: OS Landranger 15

Mobile signal: No signal in central Sutherland; nothing for many kilometres in any direction

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 13mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:48
Sunset: 19:41
Civil dawn: 06:08
Civil dusk: 20:21

NOAA Solar Calculator · 15 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Leoid.

Two-hill day
Beinn Leoid + Ben Hee
Link Beinn Leoid with Ben Hee for a full Sutherland Reay Forest double
24km · 1400m ascent · 10 hrs

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Around Beinn Leoid on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Lairg station

Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland

36km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Lochinver

Assynt base — Suilven, Cul Mor, Quinag

24km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Beinn Leoid — common questions

What difficulty is Beinn Leoid?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Leoid comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Expect roughly 14km and 649m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Terrain: Estate tracks give a firm approach.
How prominent is Beinn Leoid?: Beinn Leoid has 498m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
Where should I park to climb Beinn Leoid?: Standard parking is at NC303256 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
When should I climb Beinn Leoid?: The standard good-weather months for Beinn Leoid are May, June, July, August, September. 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 Leoid?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
What's mobile reception like on Beinn Leoid?: No signal in central Sutherland; nothing for many kilometres in any direction
Is Beinn Leoid safe in winter?: A long winter day in remote far-north country. Gentle gradients and no avalanche concerns but the open ground offers nothing for shelter and the daylight is short above 58°N. The A838 is generally kept open along the loch. Phone signal is absent throughout; carry full emergency kit.

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