Is Beinn Conchra a hard climb?

Beinn Conchra is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Tarmac approach then a damp footpath through bracken and birch.

What is Beinn Conchra's prominence?

205m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Conchra to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.

When is the best time to climb Beinn Conchra?

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Conchra. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Beinn Conchra dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Marilyn · Kintail

Beinn Conchra

Beinn Conchra rises to 453m at NG 887 291 directly above the village of Dornie at the meeting of Loch Long, Loch Alsh and Loch Duich. The name is tentatively linked to a personal name; whatever its origin, the hill offers one of the finest low-level viewpoints in Kintail, overlooking Eilean Donan castle.

Quick facts

Height: 453m/ 1486ft
Prominence: 205 m
Difficulty: 1 / 5Easy
Grid ref: NG 88723 29159
Nearest city: Inverness· 79km
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 moorland 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%

GPX needed

Elevation profile coming with the GPX track

Park near Carr Brae and follow the old road south. A faint path leaves the road to climb west onto the southern shoulder, with the summit reached after a short pull on grass and heather. Allow 2-3 hours.

Terrain

Tarmac approach then a damp footpath through bracken and birch. Above the treeline the going is on short heather and grass, with a few small outcrops near the trig point.

In winter

Right on the coast and seldom holding lasting snow. After cold spells the boggy lower slopes ice over; otherwise a year-round walk. Daylight is the main winter limiter.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Conchra. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow5h 57m
Edinburgh7h 57m

OS maps: OS Landranger 33, OS Explorer 413N, OS Explorer 428S

Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Kintail/Glenelg area; limited coverage.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 14mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:50
Sunset: 19:46
Civil dawn: 06:11
Civil dusk: 20:25

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

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Around Beinn Conchra on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Plockton station

Coastal Wester Ross; Plockton village; Skye Bridge approach

9km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Applecross

Bealach na Bà and the Applecross peninsula

23km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Beinn Conchra — common questions

Is Beinn Conchra a hard climb?: Beinn Conchra is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Tarmac approach then a damp footpath through bracken and birch.
What is Beinn Conchra's prominence?: 205m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Conchra to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
When is the best time to climb Beinn Conchra?: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Conchra. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Beinn Conchra dog-friendly?: 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 Beinn Conchra?: Poor. Remote Kintail/Glenelg area; limited coverage.
Is Beinn Conchra safe in winter?: Right on the coast and seldom holding lasting snow. After cold spells the boggy lower slopes ice over; otherwise a year-round walk. Daylight is the main winter limiter.

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