How hard is Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 469m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Sandstone slabs, peat hollows and a host of small lochans dominate the plateau.

Where do I park for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Standard parking is at NG750520 near Ullapool. 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) are May, June, July, August, 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

How hard is Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 469m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Sandstone slabs, peat hollows and a host of small lochans dominate the plateau.

Where do I park for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Standard parking is at NG750520 near Ullapool. 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) are May, June, July, August, 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary Innes

Photo: wrobison / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · North-West Highlands

Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)

Beinn a' Chlachain, also called Meall an Doireachain (625m), sits on the Applecross peninsula in the NG74 square, looking west over the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye. The Torridonian sandstone summit rock perches at the end of a long, broad ridge dotted with lochans, and the sea panorama is one of the finest of any Graham in the country. Access is from the single-track road over the Bealach na Bà.

Quick facts

Height: 625.8m/ 2053ft
Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 469 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NG724490
Parking: NG750520
Nearest: Ullapool· Inverness 94km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

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Standard route

heather and bog 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky outcrops 15%

12km · 469m ascent · 3.2 hrs

Park near NG750520 on the high road above Applecross and traverse south-west across open ground, picking a line through the maze of lochans on the broad ridge. Boggy depressions slow progress between the firmer rock platforms. The summit rock is reached after a final easy pull, and the descent should reverse the outward route — straying east leads onto steep mixed ground above Loch Kishorn.

Terrain

Sandstone slabs, peat hollows and a host of small lochans dominate the plateau. The going is rarely fast — expect to weave between bog and outcrop. Compass work is essential because the landscape feels uniformly horizontal once the road is out of sight.

In winter

Applecross hills catch wet snow off the Inner Sound and the lochan-strewn plateau is treacherous when frozen, with hidden water under thin ice. The summit rock can glaze quickly. The road from Tornapress over the Bealach na Bà is regularly closed in winter, so check before setting out.

This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow4h 54m
Edinburgh4h 28m

Parking: NG750520

OS maps: OS Landranger 24

Mobile signal: Poor. Applecross peninsula; very limited coverage on most networks.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

19h 37mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 04:36
Sunset: 22:06
Civil dawn: 03:32
Civil dusk: 23:09

NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026

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Around Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Plockton station

Coastal Wester Ross; Plockton village; Skye Bridge approach

18km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Portree

Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr

25km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery

Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door

22km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) — common questions

How hard is Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?: Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 469m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Sandstone slabs, peat hollows and a host of small lochans dominate the plateau.
Where do I park for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?: Standard parking is at NG750520 near Ullapool. 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?: The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) are May, June, July, August, 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?: 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 a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain)?: Poor. Applecross peninsula; very limited coverage on most networks.
Is Beinn a' Chlachain (Meall an Doireachain) safe in winter?: Applecross hills catch wet snow off the Inner Sound and the lochan-strewn plateau is treacherous when frozen, with hidden water under thin ice. The summit rock can glaze quickly. The road from Tornapress over the Bealach na Bà is regularly closed in winter, so check before setting out.