Marilyn · Fife & Perthshire
Beinn Dubh
This Beinn Dubh — the black hill — is a 508m top west of Loch Chon, north-east of Ben Lomond, at NN 404 045. It is not the better-known Beinn Dubh above Luss: this one sits in quieter forest and moor country.
Gaelic: “mountain, black” · Pronunciation: bine doo
Quick facts
- Height
- 508m/ 1667ft
- Prominence
- 193 m
- Grid ref
- NN 40445 04502
- Nearest city
- Stirling· 41km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather and bracken 60% · grass slopes 25% · rocky outcrops 15%
There is no waymarked route. Study the map before setting out: the approaches from the Loch Chon side cross forestry and rough moor, and the summit is a pathless top.
Terrain
Peat, heather and tussock on open ground, with forestry lower down. No continuous path.
In winter
A low hill where the peat hags freeze hard and become easier to cross. Light snow cover is the norm and rarely lies long; the main hazard is glaze ice on steep grass.
Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 13m
- Edinburgh4h 38m
OS maps: OS Landranger 56, OS Explorer 0039S, OS Explorer 364S
Mobile signal: Poor. Limited coverage west of Loch Chon.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:17
- Sunset
- 16:48
- Civil dawn
- 06:37
- Civil dusk
- 17:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
Around Beinn Dubh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Arrochar & Tarbet station
Arrochar Alps — The Cobbler, Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain, Ben Vane, Ben Vorlich
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Luss
West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Loch Lomond
Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch
24km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Dubh — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn Dubh?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Dubh comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Terrain: Peat, heather and tussock on open ground, with forestry lower down.
- How prominent is Beinn Dubh?
- Beinn Dubh has 193m 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 Dubh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Dubh 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 Dubh?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Dubh?
- Poor. Limited coverage west of Loch Chon.
- Is Beinn Dubh safe in winter?
- A low hill where the peat hags freeze hard and become easier to cross. Light snow cover is the norm and rarely lies long; the main hazard is glaze ice on steep grass.
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