What difficulty is Beinn na Gainimh?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn na Gainimh comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 598m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Wade road and estate tracks for two-thirds of the route.

What is Beinn na Gainimh's prominence?

287m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn na Gainimh to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Beinn na Gainimh?

Most walkers start from NN828349. 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 na Gainimh?

April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn na Gainimh. 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 na Gainimh dog-friendly?

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

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Fife & Perthshire

Beinn na Gainimh

A rolling Perthshire Graham on the watershed between Glen Almond and Glen Quaich. Open sheep grazing country — easy walking in clear weather, demanding to navigate in cloud. The 729 m top sits in the fife perthshire; reckon on 13 km and 598 m of ascent for the round trip.

Quick facts

Height: 729.3m/ 2393ft
Prominence: 287 m
Distance: ~13 km
Ascent: ~598 m
Time: 3–6 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NN837344
Parking: NN828349
Nearest city: Perth· 30km
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 20% · bog and heather 50% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%

13km · 598m ascent · 3.6 hrs

Park at the Newton Bridge car park in the Sma' Glen. Follow the General Wade military road north up Glen Almond, then break left on the estate track toward Auchnafree and climb the south-east shoulder. Wide grassy slopes lead to the trig.

Terrain

Wade road and estate tracks for two-thirds of the route. The upper hill is short-cropped sheep grass with occasional peat hags. Easy walking but featureless.

In winter

Eastern Highlands snow patterns — cold, dry powder rather than wet maritime snow. The plateau in cloud is genuinely disorienting; navigation is the main difficulty rather than steep ground.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn na Gainimh. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS Southeastern Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow2h 45m
Edinburgh2h 45m

Parking: NN828349

OS maps: OS Landranger 52

Mobile signal: Reception at Newton Bridge; intermittent in upper Glen Almond

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:45
Sunset: 18:18
Civil dawn: 07:07
Civil dusk: 18:56

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Beinn na Gainimh on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Dunkeld & Birnam station

Birnam Hill, Hermitage walks, southern Perthshire gateway

21km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Aberfeldy

Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy

15km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: The Glenturret

Crieff — Scotland's oldest working distillery; Famous Grouse Experience

11km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Beinn na Gainimh — common questions

What difficulty is Beinn na Gainimh?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn na Gainimh comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 598m of ascent on the usual route — 3-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Wade road and estate tracks for two-thirds of the route.
What is Beinn na Gainimh's prominence?: 287m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn na Gainimh to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Beinn na Gainimh?: Most walkers start from NN828349. 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 na Gainimh?: April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn na Gainimh. 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 na Gainimh 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 na Gainimh?: Reception at Newton Bridge; intermittent in upper Glen Almond
Is Beinn na Gainimh safe in winter?: Eastern Highlands snow patterns — cold, dry powder rather than wet maritime snow. The plateau in cloud is genuinely disorienting; navigation is the main difficulty rather than steep ground.

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