Sub-Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn a' Chumhainn
Beinn a' Chumhainn — the hill of the narrow pass — is a 901m Marilyn in NN-square Lochaber, lying on the west side of the empty country between Loch Ossian and Loch Ericht. The summit is a remote knot of bilberry and stone with views east into Ben Alder Forest and west to the Aonachs.
Quick facts
- Height
- 901.9m/ 2959ft
- Prominence
- 145 m
- Grid ref
- NN 46264 71026
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 36km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Sub-Marilyn: 145m of drop — misses the 150m Marilyn cut by 5m. We keep it on the list as a near-miss.
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
The shortest approach is from Corrour station, walking the length of Loch Ossian on the south-shore track before climbing the long east ridge from the Strath Ossian end. Alternative routes come in from Culra bothy on the Pattack side and traverse from Beinn Eibhinn — both are full mountain days.
Terrain
Estate track for the in-walk along Loch Ossian, then deep peat hags and bilberry shelves before a final stony slope. The summit ridge is a slim crest of frost-shattered schist with little vegetation.
In winter
Full Munro-style winter ground at 900m on a hill that is a long way from any road. Cornices form on the north-east edge and the summit ridge takes a knife shape under deep snow. Crampons, axe, snow shovel and the gear for a forced bivouac are standard kit.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 32m
- Edinburgh4h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42, OS Explorer 050, OS Explorer 385E, OS Explorer 393
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Loch Ericht/Dalwhinnie area; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:14
- Sunset
- 21:36
- Civil dawn
- 04:22
- Civil dusk
- 22:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Beinn a' Chumhainn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Corrour station
Highest mainline station; Loch Ossian, Ben Alder, Aonach Beag (Alder)
11km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
36km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
22km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn a' Chumhainn — common questions
- How difficult is Beinn a' Chumhainn?
- Beinn a' Chumhainn carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Estate track for the in-walk along Loch Ossian, then deep peat hags and bilberry shelves before a final stony slope.
- How prominent is Beinn a' Chumhainn?
- Beinn a' Chumhainn has 145m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. That leaves it 5m short of the 150m drop a Marilyn needs — DoBIH classes it a sub-Marilyn, a near-miss rather than a full Marilyn.
- When should I climb Beinn a' Chumhainn?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn a' Chumhainn are April, May, June, 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 Beinn a' Chumhainn?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn a' Chumhainn?
- Poor. Remote Loch Ericht/Dalwhinnie area; limited coverage.
- Is Beinn a' Chumhainn safe in winter?
- Full Munro-style winter ground at 900m on a hill that is a long way from any road. Cornices form on the north-east edge and the summit ridge takes a knife shape under deep snow. Crampons, axe, snow shovel and the gear for a forced bivouac are standard kit.
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