Corbett · Central Highlands
Beinn Mholach
Beinn Mholach — 'the rough hill' — sits in the empty country north of Loch Rannoch, a broad heathery Corbett a long way from anywhere. Most visitors cycle from the Loch Rannoch road end at Bridge of Gaur to shorten the flat approach. The 841m summit gives a quiet vantage over the whole Rannoch Moor basin to the west and the Cairngorm plateau to the east — the kind of view that has very few human marks on it, even by Highland standards.
Quick facts
- Height
- 841.8m/ 2762ft
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Time
- 5–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN587654
- Parking
- NN510568
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
west highland way 20% · bog and peat 45% · heather hillside 25% · summit area 10%
Park at the head of Loch Rannoch road near Bridge of Gaur (NN510568). A Land Rover track heads north up Allt na Coire — cycle the first 6km if possible to save time on the flat approach. Where the track ends, head north over rough heather and bog onto the south-west ridge of Beinn Mholach, then climb steadily to the summit. The terrain is consistently rough underfoot. Allow 7–8 hours on foot, less if cycling in.
Terrain
Long Land Rover track on the approach — easy with a bike, dull on foot. Once you leave it, the ground is deep heather, peat hag and tussock — slow walking even when dry. The summit is a broad domed top of grass with a substantial cairn. No path of consequence above the track end.
In winter
Snow lies long on Beinn Mholach because of the elevation and the east-side aspect. The track approach freezes hard; cycling becomes treacherous. Once on the open moor, drifting in lee hollows can be deep. A quiet alternative to busier hills if you want a solitary winter day in central Scotland, but logistically committing.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 8m
- Edinburgh2h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: No usable signal anywhere on the approach or on the hill — Rannoch is a recognised blackspot
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:35
- Sunset
- 21:55
- Civil dawn
- 03:35
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Mholach.
Around Beinn Mholach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Rannoch station
Rannoch Moor — remote West Highland Line stop; Schiehallion approach via bus
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
31km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
20km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Mholach — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Mholach?
- Beinn Mholach is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 22km with 700m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-9 hours. Terrain: Long Land Rover track on the approach — easy with a bike, dull on foot.
- Where do I park for Beinn Mholach?
- Standard parking is at NN510568 near Fort William. 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 Mholach?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Mholach are April, 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 Mholach?
- 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 Mholach?
- No usable signal anywhere on the approach or on the hill — Rannoch is a recognised blackspot
- Is Beinn Mholach safe in winter?
- Snow lies long on Beinn Mholach because of the elevation and the east-side aspect. The track approach freezes hard; cycling becomes treacherous. Once on the open moor, drifting in lee hollows can be deep. A quiet alternative to busier hills if you want a solitary winter day in central Scotland, but logistically committing.