Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn a' Chaisil
Beinn a' Chaisil — the Castle Hill — is a 437m Marilyn deep in Morvern, named for the fortress-like rocky tor that crowns its summit. The hill stands above Glen Geal and looks across to Loch Aline.
Quick facts
- Height
- 437m/ 1434ft
- Prominence
- 182 m
- Grid ref
- NM 78070 47689
- Nearest city
- Oban· 19km
- 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
heather and bog 55% · rocky slopes 30% · grass slopes 15%
A pathless climb is usually made from the Lochaline road, ascending through commercial forestry plantings before breaking out onto open heather slopes. Around 3 to 4 hours suffices for the round trip from the most direct approach.
Terrain
Forestry rides and firebreaks help on the lower slopes but the upper hill is open moor of heather, peat hag and exposed bedrock. The final summit tor offers easy scrambling.
In winter
Low altitude keeps prolonged snow cover rare, but the exposed summit tor can ice up. Forestry tracks can be slippery with frost.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 58m
- Edinburgh6h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 383E
Mobile signal: Weak. no EE bars on this remote Ardgour hill; Corpach-side has limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:19
- Sunset
- 21:39
- Civil dawn
- 04:28
- Civil dusk
- 22:29
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Beinn a' Chaisil 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
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
19km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn a' Chaisil — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn a' Chaisil?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn a' Chaisil comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Forestry rides and firebreaks help on the lower slopes but the upper hill is open moor of heather, peat hag and exposed bedrock.
- How much drop does Beinn a' Chaisil have?
- The drop is 182m: measured from the summit of Beinn a' Chaisil down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Beinn a' Chaisil?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Beinn a' Chaisil. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Beinn a' Chaisil?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Beinn a' Chaisil?
- Weak. no EE bars on this remote Ardgour hill; Corpach-side has limited coverage.
- Is Beinn a' Chaisil safe in winter?
- Low altitude keeps prolonged snow cover rare, but the exposed summit tor can ice up. Forestry tracks can be slippery with frost.
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