Marilyn · Central Highlands
Beinn Eilde
Beinn Eilde — the hill of the hinds — is a 674m Marilyn in NN-square Badenoch, set above the north end of Loch Ericht east of Dalwhinnie. The summit looks west across the long loch to Ben Alder and east into the Drumochter Munros, with the A9 humming faintly far below.
Quick facts
- Height
- 674m/ 2211ft
- Grid ref
- NN 56356 85031
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 47km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
The standard line is from Dalwhinnie via the Loch Ericht estate road, leaving the track after a few kilometres and climbing east onto the broad heather flank. The summit is a low rise on a peaty plateau marked by a small cairn — easy walking once altitude is gained.
Terrain
Grouse-shot heather and well-burned strips on the lower slope, with bilberry, crowberry and peat hags above. The plateau is firm in dry weather but the hags hold water indefinitely.
In winter
Central Highland snow rather than maritime — drier, deeper and prone to forming wind-sculpted dunes on the plateau. The featureless top is a serious navigation exercise in cloud; bearings off the cairn fan out across a flat kilometre.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 47m
- Edinburgh4h 57m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42, OS Explorer 050, OS Explorer 393
Mobile signal: Poor. Remote Loch Ericht area; limited coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:23
- Sunset
- 22:13
- Civil dawn
- 03:16
- Civil dusk
- 23:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Beinn Eilde on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
7km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
43km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
7km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Eilde — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Eilde?
- Beinn Eilde is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Grouse-shot heather and well-burned strips on the lower slope, with bilberry, crowberry and peat hags above.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Eilde?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Eilde 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 Eilde?
- 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 Eilde?
- Poor. Remote Loch Ericht area; limited coverage.
- Is Beinn Eilde safe in winter?
- Central Highland snow rather than maritime — drier, deeper and prone to forming wind-sculpted dunes on the plateau. The featureless top is a serious navigation exercise in cloud; bearings off the cairn fan out across a flat kilometre.
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