How hard is Beinn Fhada?

Beinn Fhada is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 576m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: Lochside track, then stalkers' path through old birch scrub before opening into rough Morvern heather and tussocky deer grass.

Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?

Standard parking is at NM537344 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 Fhada?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn Fhada 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 Fhada?

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

How do I get the ferry to Beinn Fhada?

Oban → Craignure. Up to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.

How hard is Beinn Fhada?

Beinn Fhada is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 576m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: Lochside track, then stalkers' path through old birch scrub before opening into rough Morvern heather and tussocky deer grass.

Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?

Standard parking is at NM537344 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 Fhada?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn Fhada 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 Fhada?

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

How do I get the ferry to Beinn Fhada?

Oban → Craignure. Up to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.

By Gary Innes

Photo: Alpin Stewart / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Argyll & Bute

Beinn Fhada

Beinn Fhada (702m) is a long whaleback ridge on the Morvern peninsula in the NM54 square, rising from the head of Loch Tearnait. The name means the long hill in Gaelic and is shared by larger relatives in Kintail and Glen Coe; this Morvern version is quieter and seldom climbed. Views run south to Garbh Beinn and west across the Sound of Mull to Tobermory.

Gaelic: “mountain, long” · Pronunciation: bine ah-dah

Quick facts

Height: 702m/ 2303ft
Distance: 13 km
Ascent: 576 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NM540349
Parking: NM537344
Nearest city: Oban
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

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Standard route

heather moorland 40% · grassy slopes 35% · rocky corrie 25%

13km · 576m ascent · 3.6 hrs

Park at the end of the public track at Achranich and follow the estate road south alongside Loch Arienas. Beyond the lodge a stalkers' path strikes east up the Allt Coire na Cuilce, then quits to leave open hill above 400m. Take the north-west ridge directly onto the long summit crest, which carries an obvious ridge fence to the cairn.

Terrain

Lochside track, then stalkers' path through old birch scrub before opening into rough Morvern heather and tussocky deer grass. The long summit ridge is mostly cropped turf with a peat hag or two. Boggy sections lie either side of the 400m contour after wet spells.

In winter

Morvern catches the full Atlantic blast and snow rarely lies for more than a week at a time, but the long exposed ridge becomes a serious place in a westerly storm with no shelter for over 2km. Wind chill rather than avalanche is the dominant risk here. Stalking is active September to October.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 11m
Edinburgh4h 0m

Parking: NM537344

Ferry access

Oban → Craignure

Crossing time45 min
Summer sailingsUp to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct)
Winter sailings4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar)
Book ahead7 days
Last ferry backCheck CalMac timetable — sailings run until ~21:00 in peak summer

Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.

Book on CalMac ↗

OS maps: OS Landranger 47, OS Landranger 48

Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Kintail position despite proximity to Glen Shiel road; signal drops in corries.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

19h 13mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 04:44
Sunset: 21:59
Civil dawn: 03:45
Civil dusk: 22:58

NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026

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Around Beinn Fhada on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Oban station

Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections

32km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Tobermory

Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona

21km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Tobermory

Mull — colourful harbour-front distillery making both unpeated and peated (Ledaig) whisky

21km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Beinn Fhada — common questions

How hard is Beinn Fhada?: Beinn Fhada is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 576m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Terrain: Lochside track, then stalkers' path through old birch scrub before opening into rough Morvern heather and tussocky deer grass.
Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?: Standard parking is at NM537344 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 Fhada?: The standard good-weather months for Beinn Fhada 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 Fhada?: 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 Fhada?: Poor. Remote Kintail position despite proximity to Glen Shiel road; signal drops in corries.
How do I get the ferry to Beinn Fhada?: Oban → Craignure. Up to 8 sailings daily (Apr–Oct) in summer; 4–5 sailings daily (Nov–Mar) in winter. Book at least 7 days ahead. Foot passengers can usually turn up without booking. Book vehicle spaces in advance. The Lochaline → Fishnish crossing (15 min) is shorter but serves east Mull only.
Is Beinn Fhada safe in winter?: Morvern catches the full Atlantic blast and snow rarely lies for more than a week at a time, but the long exposed ridge becomes a serious place in a westerly storm with no shelter for over 2km. Wind chill rather than avalanche is the dominant risk here. Stalking is active September to October.