Graham · Argyll & Bute
Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)
Creach-Beinn (698m) — the hill of plunder, named for cattle reivers who once mustered raids in its shadow — sits at the heart of Morvern in the NM62 square. With 552m of prominence it dominates the peninsula, looking out over Loch Linnhe to Ardgour and across the Sound of Mull to Ben More. The summit is a rocky bump on a long undulating ridge.
Quick facts
- Height
- 698.7m/ 2292ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 572 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NM642276
- Parking
- NM625275
- Nearest city
- Oban
- 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 bog 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 15%
From the parking lay-by on the B849 west of Lochaline take the forest track north into Coire na Cuile. Where the forestry ends a stalkers' path strikes east up the burn, fading at 400m into open hillside. Climb the south ridge directly: a fine breezy crest of schist and turf.
Terrain
Forest tracks at the start, then the path through Sitka plantation gives way to tussocky boggy ground above the treeline. The summit ridge has occasional schist outcrops but the going is generally cropped grass once over the worst of the bog at 350m.
In winter
Morvern's maritime climate keeps Creach-Beinn snow-free for most of the year, but Atlantic depressions occasionally dump quick wet falls that turn the schist slabs greasy. The exposed ridge becomes very windy in any westerly. Travel here in winter is rarely about snow technique and more about wading through clag and rain.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 55m
- Edinburgh4h 46m
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 49
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Morvern peninsula; very limited coverage on most networks.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:44
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 03:45
- Civil dusk
- 22:56
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn) 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
22km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
22km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
22km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn) — common questions
- How hard is Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn) is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 572m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Forest tracks at the start, then the path through Sitka plantation gives way to tussocky boggy ground above the treeline.
- Where do I park for Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- Standard parking is at NM625275 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 Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- The standard good-weather months for Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn) 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 Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- 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 Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- Poor. Remote Morvern peninsula; very limited coverage on most networks.
- How do I get the ferry to Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn)?
- 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 Creach-Beinn (Creach Beinn) safe in winter?
- Morvern's maritime climate keeps Creach-Beinn snow-free for most of the year, but Atlantic depressions occasionally dump quick wet falls that turn the schist slabs greasy. The exposed ridge becomes very windy in any westerly. Travel here in winter is rarely about snow technique and more about wading through clag and rain.