Graham · Arrochar & Trossachs
Beinn Chaorach
Beinn Chaorach (713m) — the sheep hill — rises at NS28 between Glen Fruin and Loch Long, the southernmost Graham of the Luss Hills group. Its grassy summit gives a superb low-altitude vantage: down-river over the Clyde naval base at Faslane, west to the Cobbler and the Arrochar Alps, and east across Loch Lomond toward Ben Lomond itself. As one of the closest Grahams to Glasgow it sees frequent traffic from west-end walking clubs.
Quick facts
- Height
- 713m/ 2339ft
- Prominence
- 381 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 585 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS287923
- Parking
- NS270955
- Nearest city
- Glasgow· 41km
- 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
moorland path 25% · heather hillside 45% · grassy ridge 20% · summit area 10%
From the Glen Fruin road at NS270955, take the metalled estate track south, then climb the steady north-east shoulder on sheep paths and short grass. The route is a simple ridge ascent with no significant re-ascent until the final dome. Roughly 13km out-and-back, 585m of ascent. The neighbouring Beinn Tharsuinn and Ben Reoch can extend the day usefully.
Terrain
Luss-style cropped turf above 400m gives reliable, fast going at all but the wettest times of year. Lower ground in Glen Fruin holds intermittent boggy patches. The summit is unmarked open turf; navigation is straightforward in clear weather but the broad dome blurs in cloud.
In winter
High rainfall on Loch Long's seaward flank means rime and verglas form on every rock and fence wire even in marginal frosts. Snow rarely lies long but the windswept summit catches the full force of southwesterlies. No SAIS forecast covers the Luss Hills directly — judgement and patience are the tools required.
This hill is in the Southern Highlands SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 58m
- Edinburgh2h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56
Mobile signal: Reliable signal throughout — Faslane and Clyde transmitters cover the summit
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:56
- Sunset
- 21:54
- Civil dawn
- 04:01
- Civil dusk
- 22:50
NOAA Solar Calculator · 17 July 2026
Around Beinn Chaorach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Helensburgh Upper station
Three Lochs Way; Gareloch and Loch Long ridge approaches
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
7km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
15km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Chaorach — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn Chaorach?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Chaorach comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 585m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Luss-style cropped turf above 400m gives reliable, fast going at all but the wettest times of year.
- What is Beinn Chaorach's prominence?
- 381m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Chaorach to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Beinn Chaorach?
- Most walkers start from NS270955. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Chaorach?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Chaorach. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Beinn Chaorach dog-friendly?
- 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 Chaorach?
- Reliable signal throughout — Faslane and Clyde transmitters cover the summit
- Is Beinn Chaorach safe in winter?
- High rainfall on Loch Long's seaward flank means rime and verglas form on every rock and fence wire even in marginal frosts. Snow rarely lies long but the windswept summit catches the full force of southwesterlies. No SAIS forecast covers the Luss Hills directly — judgement and patience are the tools required.
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