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
- Prominence
- 174 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 576 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NM540349
- Parking
- NM537344
- Nearest city
- Oban· 32km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather moorland 40% · grassy slopes 35% · rocky corrie 25%
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
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 11m
- Edinburgh4h 0m
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
- Sunrise
- 04:53
- Sunset
- 22:07
- Civil dawn
- 03:54
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Beinn Fhada on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
32km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Tobermory
Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter 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?
- We grade Beinn Fhada at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 13km with 576m of climbing; allow 4-6 hours. Underfoot: Lochside track, then stalkers' path through old birch scrub before opening into rough Morvern heather and tussocky deer grass.
- What is Beinn Fhada's prominence?
- 174m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Fhada to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?
- Most walkers start from NM537344. 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 Fhada?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Fhada. 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 Fhada 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 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.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.