Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn Bhreac
Beinn Bhreac — the Speckled Hill — is a small, characterful summit at the head of Loch Doilet in Sunart, rising to just 240m yet making a tidy half-day out. The name reflects the lichen-streaked outcrops that pattern the upper slopes. Views span the Sunart oakwoods and pick out Garbh Bheinn's craggy profile to the east.
Quick facts
- Height
- 240m/ 787ft
- Prominence
- 153 m
- Grid ref
- NM 68152 71515
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 42km
- 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
rough grassland 40% · basalt/gabbro 35% · heather moorland 25%
Start from the lane near Strontian or Polloch and follow forestry tracks to the foot of the hill, then climb steep grass and heather direct to the summit. The walking is short and intuitive but pathless above the trees. Two to three hours return.
Terrain
Mossy oakwood floor and forestry edge on the approach, then mixed heather and granite outcrops higher up. The mottled rock that gives the hill its name is grippy when dry, less so in rain.
In winter
A useful short-day option when the bigger Ardgour hills are buried. Snow accumulates only briefly here, but the steep grass sections become slick and need care if frozen.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 39m
- Edinburgh7h 4m
OS maps: OS Landranger 40, OS Explorer 390E
Mobile signal: Poor. Ardnamurchan/Morvern; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:47
- Sunset
- 21:10
- Civil dawn
- 05:01
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 August 2026
Around Beinn Bhreac on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Morar station
Silver Sands, Knoydart approach, Loch Morar
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Tobermory
Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tobermory
Mull — colourful harbour-front distillery making both unpeated and peated (Ledaig) whisky
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Bhreac — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn Bhreac?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Bhreac comes in at 1/5 — easy. Terrain: Mossy oakwood floor and forestry edge on the approach, then mixed heather and granite outcrops higher up.
- How prominent is Beinn Bhreac?
- Beinn Bhreac has 153m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground. Marilyns are defined by that measure: at least 150m of drop on all sides.
- When should I climb Beinn Bhreac?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Bhreac are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. 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 Bhreac?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Bhreac?
- Poor. Ardnamurchan/Morvern; limited coverage.
- Is Beinn Bhreac safe in winter?
- A useful short-day option when the bigger Ardgour hills are buried. Snow accumulates only briefly here, but the steep grass sections become slick and need care if frozen.
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