Corbett · Ardnamurchan
Garbh Bheinn
Garbh Bheinn of Ardgour is widely regarded as the finest non-Munro mountain in Scotland — an 885m rocky peak rising above the south side of Loch Linnhe with three classic ridges, a famous Great Ridge with established rock climbs since the 1890s, and a reputation that has drawn generations of scramblers and climbers across the Corran Ferry. The summit gives a panorama across to Ben Nevis and the Mamores. The hill is approached from the small parking area on the road over to Strontian, and the routes range from a steady walking ascent to serious mountaineering.
Gaelic: “rough” · Pronunciation: garrav bheinn
Quick facts
- Height
- 885.6m/ 2906ft
- Prominence
- 688 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 950 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NM904622
- Parking
- NM928597
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 23km
- 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
glen path 20% · steep grass 25% · rocky scramble 40% · summit rocks 15%
The walking route starts from the layby on the A861 below Coire an Iubhair. Cross the road and follow a path north into the corrie for around 3km. From the corrie floor, climb steeply west onto Sron a' Gharbh Choire Bhig and follow the north-east ridge to the summit. Scramblers prefer the Great Ridge (Grade 3) climbed directly out of the corrie. Descent is best via the north-east ridge in reverse. Allow 6–7 hours for the walking route.
Terrain
The corrie path is reasonable but boggy in places. The upper mountain is built of metamorphic schist — sharp ridges, rock outcrops, and steep slabs in the corrie below the Great Ridge. The summit crest is sharp-edged with serious drops east and west alike; in cloud, route-finding needs real care.
In winter
Garbh Bheinn counts among the great Scottish winter mountaineering peaks. The Great Ridge in winter is a Grade III/IV climb of legendary status; the walker's route up the north-east ridge becomes a Grade I winter mountaineering route requiring axe, crampons and good judgement. Lee cornices overhang the eastern flank of the summit ridge — give the edge a wide berth.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 31m
- Edinburgh3h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 40, OS Explorer 391
Mobile signal: Patchy on the Ardgour road; no signal in Coire an Iubhair or on the summit; better at the Corran Ferry slipway
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:49
- Sunset
- 22:06
- Civil dawn
- 03:49
- Civil dusk
- 23:06
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Garbh Bheinn.
Around Garbh Bheinn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Glenfinnan station
Glenfinnan Viaduct; Streap, Sgurr Thuilm, Glen Finnan Munros
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
26km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Garbh Bheinn — common questions
- How hard is Garbh Bheinn?
- We grade Garbh Bheinn at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 13km with 950m of climbing; allow 4-7 hours. Ground conditions: The corrie path is reasonable but boggy in places.
- How much drop does Garbh Bheinn have?
- The drop is 688m: measured from the summit of Garbh Bheinn down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Garbh Bheinn?
- Park at NM928597. 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 Garbh Bheinn?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Garbh Bheinn. 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 Garbh Bheinn?
- 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 Garbh Bheinn?
- Patchy on the Ardgour road; no signal in Coire an Iubhair or on the summit; better at the Corran Ferry slipway
- Is Garbh Bheinn safe in winter?
- Garbh Bheinn counts among the great Scottish winter mountaineering peaks. The Great Ridge in winter is a Grade III/IV climb of legendary status; the walker's route up the north-east ridge becomes a Grade I winter mountaineering route requiring axe, crampons and good judgement. Lee cornices overhang the eastern flank of the summit ridge — give the edge a wide berth.
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