Graham · Argyll & Bute
Beinn Ruadh
Beinn Ruadh (664m) — the red hill — is a wedge-shaped summit on the Cowal peninsula in NS18, standing between Loch Eck and Loch Long. Its 502m of prominence makes it a striking landmark on the Argyll skyline. The flat-topped rock summit looks east across the Firth of Clyde to the cones of Arran and west into the heart of the Argyll Forest Park.
Gaelic: “mountain, red” · Pronunciation: bine roo-ah
Quick facts
- Height
- 664.6m/ 2180ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 544 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NS155884
- Parking
- NS152921
- Nearest city
- Glasgow
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather and bracken 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 15%
Start from the Forestry car park at Glenbranter on the A815 north of Dunoon and follow the forest road south-east into Glen Massan. Climb the steep west flank through forestry, breaking out above the treeline at around 350m onto bracken and heather. The summit ridge is gained directly with the large rock cairn appearing at the eastern end of the broad top.
Terrain
Forestry road on the lower slopes, then thick bracken and windthrow at the treeline that can be awkward to thread. Above the forest the going is bilberry and short heather onto a broad summit ridge. The rock cairn is unmistakable.
In winter
Cowal winters bring wet snow more often than dry powder. Beinn Ruadh's steep west face holds rotten snow on bracken slopes — best avoided in any thaw cycle. The summit area is generally wind-scoured. Ferries and the A83 can be disrupted by storms.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 10m
- Edinburgh2h 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better near the Cowal coast.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:43
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:46
- Civil dusk
- 22:49
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
On a long-distance route
Beinn Ruadh sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Beinn Ruadh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Gourock station
Ferry to Dunoon and Kilcreggan; Inverclyde coast walks
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Ruadh — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Ruadh?
- Beinn Ruadh is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 544m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Forestry road on the lower slopes, then thick bracken and windthrow at the treeline that can be awkward to thread.
- Where do I park for Beinn Ruadh?
- Standard parking is at NS152921 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 Ruadh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Ruadh are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Ruadh?
- 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 Ruadh?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better near the Cowal coast.
- Is Beinn Ruadh safe in winter?
- Cowal winters bring wet snow more often than dry powder. Beinn Ruadh's steep west face holds rotten snow on bracken slopes — best avoided in any thaw cycle. The summit area is generally wind-scoured. Ferries and the A83 can be disrupted by storms.