Graham · North-West Highlands
Beinn a' Mhuinidh
Beinn a' Mhuinidh (689m) is the mossy hill that overlooks the head of Loch Maree, set in the NH06 square at the edge of the Letterewe Forest. Its sandstone north face plunges 400m to the loch in the spectacular Waterfall Buttress, a venue for early Scottish rock pioneers. From the summit the view stretches across to Slioch and out west to An Teallach.
Quick facts
- Height
- 689.9m/ 2263ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 565 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH032660
- Parking
- NH056690
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 67km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · rocky hillside 30% · grassy slopes 15%
From the carpark at Incheril near Kinlochewe follow the Loch Maree shore path west for about 5km. At the foot of Waterfall Buttress strike up the broad heather flank to the east, gaining the south-east shoulder above the cliffs. A long heathery rise leads to the cairn on a cropped turf top.
Terrain
Loch-shore path on rough birch ground, then deep heather and bracken above 300m. The south-east shoulder is straightforward but steep, with one short slabby section easily turned. The summit plateau is firm cropped grass.
In winter
Wester Ross winters drive heavy wet snow against the north face of the hill and the Waterfall Buttress freezes into a major ice venue. The walker's south-east shoulder stays much more manageable but ice axe and crampons are essential above 500m. Atlantic squalls can pin a party on the summit in minutes.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 0m
- Edinburgh4h 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 19
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Letterewe/Loch Maree area; limited coverage on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:05
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 23:09
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Beinn a' Mhuinidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn a' Mhuinidh — common questions
- How hard is Beinn a' Mhuinidh?
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 565m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: Loch-shore path on rough birch ground, then deep heather and bracken above 300m.
- Where do I park for Beinn a' Mhuinidh?
- Standard parking is at NH056690 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' Mhuinidh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Mhuinidh 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' Mhuinidh?
- 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' Mhuinidh?
- Poor. Remote Letterewe/Loch Maree area; limited coverage on most networks.
- Is Beinn a' Mhuinidh safe in winter?
- Wester Ross winters drive heavy wet snow against the north face of the hill and the Waterfall Buttress freezes into a major ice venue. The walker's south-east shoulder stays much more manageable but ice axe and crampons are essential above 500m. Atlantic squalls can pin a party on the summit in minutes.