Graham · Arrochar & Trossachs
Beinn Eich
Beinn Eich (701m) is the prominent cone of the Luss Hills above the western shore of Loch Lomond, set in the NS39 square. The name — hill of the horse — refers to the high pony track that once crossed its eastern shoulder. As the most accessible of the group from Glen Luss, it forms a fine short day or the first peak in the classic horseshoe with Doune Hill and Beinn Lochain.
Quick facts
- Height
- 701.5m/ 2302ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 575 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS302946
- Parking
- NS295953
- Nearest city
- Glasgow
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather and bracken 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%
From the parking area at Glen Striddle in Glen Luss the gravel estate road climbs north-west for 1km before a clear path strikes up the south-east ridge. The going is steady on cropped grass with one short steepening at 500m where the path eases left. The cairn sits on a tiny rocky platform with the whole Loch Lomond basin opening at your feet.
Terrain
Estate track for the first kilometre, then a rebuilt path on the south-east ridge climbing through bracken and short turf. The upper third is on schist and mica gravel with occasional outcrop but no scrambling. Bracken is a real obstacle late summer if you stray from the path.
In winter
Loch Lomond hills sit just inside the Highland Boundary Fault and rarely hold deep snow, but the south-east ridge can ice hard in February. Wind off Loch Long funnels onto the summit unpleasantly. With the trailhead under an hour from Glasgow these hills make a fine winter half-day when the bigger Munros are out of condition.
This hill is in the Lochaber SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 59m
- Edinburgh2h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56
Mobile signal: Good signal on summit; EE reliable with clear views to Loch Lomond and Firth of Clyde.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:41
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:44
- Civil dusk
- 22:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Eich.
Around Beinn Eich on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Arrochar & Tarbet station
Arrochar Alps — The Cobbler, Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain, Ben Vane, Ben Vorlich
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
6km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
17km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Eich — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Eich?
- Beinn Eich is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 575m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Estate track for the first kilometre, then a rebuilt path on the south-east ridge climbing through bracken and short turf.
- Where do I park for Beinn Eich?
- Standard parking is at NS295953 near Glasgow. 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 Eich?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Eich are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. 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 Eich?
- 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 Eich?
- Good signal on summit; EE reliable with clear views to Loch Lomond and Firth of Clyde.
- Is Beinn Eich safe in winter?
- Loch Lomond hills sit just inside the Highland Boundary Fault and rarely hold deep snow, but the south-east ridge can ice hard in February. Wind off Loch Long funnels onto the summit unpleasantly. With the trailhead under an hour from Glasgow these hills make a fine winter half-day when the bigger Munros are out of condition.