Corbett · Glen Orchy
Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh
Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh is the broad, grassy Corbett between Glen Orchy and Glen Strae, west of Tyndrum in Argyll. The hill itself is undistinguished — a long whaleback with no real summit drama — but the view is the reward: an open sweep over Ben Lui, Ben Starav, Beinn Dorain and Ben Cruachan, with Loch Awe stretching south towards Mull on a clear day. The pathless upper half keeps it quiet even when the Tyndrum Munros are busy.
Gaelic: “mountain, son of, moor” · Pronunciation: bine mhic mhonaidh
Quick facts
- Height
- 794.8m/ 2608ft
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 650 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN208350
- Parking
- NN242320
- Nearest
- Dalmally· Oban 35km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
forest road 30% · open hillside 45% · bog 20% · broad ridge 5%
The standard approach starts from the Eas Urchaidh (Falls of Orchy) car park in Glen Orchy (NN242320). Cross the river and follow the forest road north-west through the Allt Broighleachan pinewood — one of the most southerly fragments of Caledonian pine in Scotland — to a stile at the forest edge. From there it is pathless: climb rough, often boggy grass and heather onto the broad south-east ridge and follow it to the summit cairn. Around 15km return with roughly 650m of ascent; allow 5–6 hours.
Terrain
A good forest road for the first few kilometres, then trackless hillside the rest of the way. The open ground is rough grass and heather with peat hags and wet runnels that stay boggy long after dry spells — gaiters earn their place. The summit ridge is broad and featureless: easy in clear weather, a compass exercise in cloud.
In winter
Modest height but a genuinely remote feel in winter. Snow lies on the upper ridge from December into March, and the broad, featureless top demands confident navigation when the cloud is down. The pathless approach is slow under snow and the burns on the lower slopes can be awkward in spate.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 55m
- Edinburgh3h 40m
OS maps: OS Explorer 377, OS Landranger 50
Mobile signal: Patchy near the Glen Orchy car park; little or no signal on the pathless upper hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:30
- Sunset
- 22:14
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 23:19
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 June 2026
Around Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?
- Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 650m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-7 hours. Terrain: A good forest road for the first few kilometres, then trackless hillside the rest of the way.
- Where do I park for Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?
- Standard parking is at NN242320 near Dalmally. 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh are May, June, 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?
- 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?
- Patchy near the Glen Orchy car park; little or no signal on the pathless upper hill.
- Is Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh safe in winter?
- Modest height but a genuinely remote feel in winter. Snow lies on the upper ridge from December into March, and the broad, featureless top demands confident navigation when the cloud is down. The pathless approach is slow under snow and the burns on the lower slopes can be awkward in spate.
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.