How hard is Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?

We grade Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 15km with 650m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Ground conditions: A good forest road for the first few kilometres, then trackless hillside the rest of the way.

How much drop does Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh have?

The drop is 419m: measured from the summit of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?

Park at NN242320 near Dalmally. 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?

Aim for May, June, September on Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh. 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor Last reviewed 22 June 2026

Be the first to add a photo →

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
Prominence: 419 m
Distance: ~15 km
Ascent: ~650 m
Time: 5–7 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NN208350
Parking: NN242320
Nearest: Dalmally· Oban 35km
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.

Submit your GPX

Standard route

forest road 30% · open hillside 45% · bog 20% · broad ridge 5%

15km · 650m ascent · 5.6 hrs

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.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh. 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 West 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

Glasgow2h 55m
Edinburgh3h 40m

Parking: NN242320

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

13h 32mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:04
Sunset: 19:21
Civil dawn: 06:27
Civil dusk: 19:59

NOAA Solar Calculator · 22 September 2026

Got a photo of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?

30 seconds, helps other walkers.

Submit a photo

Walked it with a GPX?

From your watch or phone.

Submit GPX

Trip report?

Share what it was actually like.

Get in touch →

Around Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Dalmally station

Ben Cruachan; Dalmally Horseshoe; Argyll inland access

9km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Glencoe

Three Sisters, Aonach Eagach and the Lost Valley — village base on Loch Leven

26km 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 Mhic Mhonaidh — common questions

How hard is Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?: We grade Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 15km with 650m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Ground conditions: A good forest road for the first few kilometres, then trackless hillside the rest of the way.
How much drop does Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh have?: The drop is 419m: measured from the summit of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh?: Park at NN242320 near Dalmally. 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?: Aim for May, June, September on Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh. 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 Mhic Mhonaidh?: 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 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.