Sub-Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn an Tuim
Beinn an Tuim, the hill of the knoll, rises directly above the Glenfinnan viaduct to 812m. It is the dominant peak of the immediate Glenfinnan skyline and a Corbett-height Marilyn with a clean south ridge facing Loch Shiel.
Quick facts
- Height
- 812.7m/ 2666ft
- Prominence
- 147 m
- Grid ref
- NM 92935 83538
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 20km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Sub-Marilyn: 147m of drop — misses the 150m Marilyn cut by 3m. 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 60% · rocky slopes 25% · grass slopes 15%
From the National Trust car park at Glenfinnan, take the path through the woods toward the viaduct, then cross the railway and climb steeply up the south-east ridge. A clean ascent on heather and grass to a small cairn with a memorable view down to the loch and the Jacobite monument. About 5 hours circular.
Terrain
A clean ridge of heather and short turf with occasional rocky steps. The lower wooded section is wet after rain and has slippery roots; the open ridge is among the better walking in this area.
In winter
At 812m and west-facing, the hill catches the brunt of winter Atlantic systems. The south-east ridge is the safer line in snow; the north-west drops are heavily corniced in good winters. Crampons useful from January to March on the upper third.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 0m
- Edinburgh6h 13m
OS maps: OS Landranger 40, OS Explorer 398E
Mobile signal: Patchy. Reception comes and goes on the ridge; the visitor centre car park has reliable coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:40
- Civil dawn
- 04:25
- Civil dusk
- 22:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Beinn an Tuim on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Base yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn an Tuim — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn an Tuim?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn an Tuim comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Ground conditions: A clean ridge of heather and short turf with occasional rocky steps.
- How much drop does Beinn an Tuim have?
- The drop is 147m: measured from the summit of Beinn an Tuim down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. That leaves it 3m short of the 150m drop a Marilyn needs — DoBIH classes it a sub-Marilyn, a near-miss rather than a full Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Beinn an Tuim?
- Aim for April, May, June, September on Beinn an Tuim. 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 an Tuim?
- 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 an Tuim?
- Patchy. Reception comes and goes on the ridge; the visitor centre car park has reliable coverage.
- Is Beinn an Tuim safe in winter?
- At 812m and west-facing, the hill catches the brunt of winter Atlantic systems. The south-east ridge is the safer line in snow; the north-west drops are heavily corniced in good winters. Crampons useful from January to March on the upper third.
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