Graham · Argyll & Bute
Beinn Bheag
Beinn Bheag (619m), the small hill, rises above Loch Eck in the NS19 square on the Cowal peninsula, between the Holy Loch and Strachur. Its tiny summit cairn perches on a grass-and-heather knoll at the southern end of the long Glenbranter forest ridges, and the view stretches over Loch Eck to Argyll's Bowling Green hills. Forestry plantations cover much of the lower hill, with the open top tagged onto a network of forest roads.
Gaelic: “mountain, small” · Pronunciation: bine vek
Quick facts
- Height
- 619.8m/ 2033ft
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 464 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS125931
- Parking
- NS116920
- Nearest city
- Oban
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
From the Glenbranter visitor parking near NS116920 follow the forest road network east and then north onto the ridge of Beinn Bheag. Take the open hillside above the deer fence directly to the summit — the small cairn is unmistakable on the highest knoll. About four and a half hours round, with the descent best taken via the same forest road exit to avoid getting lost in plantations.
Terrain
Forest road for the lower hill, then heather and rough grass above the treeline. Felled patches in the plantation can make navigation surprisingly tricky on the return. The open ridge has small peaty hollows that hold water after rain.
In winter
Cowal sits in the path of mild but very wet Atlantic systems, and Beinn Bheag rarely holds snow long. The forest tracks ice up readily in shaded sections, and gales can fell trees across the routes. The hill makes a reasonable winter outing once the cold sets in firmly.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 17m
- Edinburgh2h 26m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Argyll interior; limited coverage on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:43
- Sunset
- 21:53
- Civil dawn
- 03:45
- Civil dusk
- 22:50
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
On a long-distance route
Beinn Bheag sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Beinn Bheag on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Gourock station
Ferry to Dunoon and Kilcreggan; Inverclyde coast walks
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
23km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Bheag — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Bheag?
- Beinn Bheag is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 12km with 464m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: Forest road for the lower hill, then heather and rough grass above the treeline.
- Where do I park for Beinn Bheag?
- Standard parking is at NS116920 near Oban. 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 Bheag?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Bheag are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Bheag?
- 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 Bheag?
- Poor. Remote Argyll interior; limited coverage on most networks.
- Is Beinn Bheag safe in winter?
- Cowal sits in the path of mild but very wet Atlantic systems, and Beinn Bheag rarely holds snow long. The forest tracks ice up readily in shaded sections, and gales can fell trees across the routes. The hill makes a reasonable winter outing once the cold sets in firmly.