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
- Prominence
- 196 m
- Distance
- 22 km
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Time
- 5–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN587654
- Parking
- NN510568
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 49km
- 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
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
- 04:44
- Sunset
- 22:02
- Civil dawn
- 03:44
- Civil dusk
- 23:02
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 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
- Is Beinn Mholach a hard climb?
- 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. Ground conditions: Long Land Rover track on the approach — easy with a bike, dull on foot.
- How much drop does Beinn Mholach have?
- The drop is 196m: measured from the summit of Beinn Mholach down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Beinn Mholach?
- Park at NN510568. 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 Mholach?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Beinn Mholach. 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 Mholach?
- 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 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.
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.