Marilyn · Argyll
Beinn Dubh Airigh
Beinn Dubh Airigh — the Dark Hill of the Shieling — is a 459m summit in mid-Knapdale, named for the long-gone summer pastures on its slopes. It is a quiet, little-frequented top.
Gaelic: “mountain, black, shieling” · Pronunciation: bine doo airigh
Quick facts
- Height
- 459m/ 1506ft
- Prominence
- 181 m
- Grid ref
- NM 95855 03524
- Nearest city
- Oban· 28km
- 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 bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Park near Loch Coille-Bharr and pick up forestry tracks before striking out across rough ground for the summit. Pathless going through bog and tussock means progress is slow; allow 3 to 5 hours.
Terrain
Mixed forestry tracks lead to extensive bog and tussock-grass on the open hill. The summit dome itself is grassier with a few small dark outcrops.
In winter
Winter snow rarely settles for long here but the bog stays unpleasant when frozen-then-thawed. Forestry rides may be closed for harvesting in winter.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 49m
- Edinburgh5h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 55, OS Explorer 358N, OS Explorer 360S
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal absent on summit; inform a contact before heading out.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:35
- Civil dawn
- 04:30
- Civil dusk
- 22:25
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Beinn Dubh Airigh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
28km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Dubh Airigh — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Dubh Airigh?
- We grade Beinn Dubh Airigh at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Terrain: Mixed forestry tracks lead to extensive bog and tussock-grass on the open hill.
- How prominent is Beinn Dubh Airigh?
- Beinn Dubh Airigh has 181m 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 Airigh?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Dubh Airigh 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 Airigh?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Dubh Airigh?
- Poor. Signal absent on summit; inform a contact before heading out.
- Is Beinn Dubh Airigh safe in winter?
- Winter snow rarely settles for long here but the bog stays unpleasant when frozen-then-thawed. Forestry rides may be closed for harvesting in winter.
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