Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn Lora
Beinn Lora is a 308m forested Marilyn in NM-square Argyll, immediately above the village of Benderloch on the A828 just north of Connel. Despite its low altitude the hill stands alone above the sea, with the trig point looking west across Ardmucknish Bay to Lismore and the Sound of Mull and east into the mouth of Loch Etive.
Quick facts
- Height
- 308m/ 1010ft
- Grid ref
- NM 91941 37736
- Nearest city
- Oban· 10km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · grass and bracken 30% · rocky summit 15%
The standard route uses the Forestry and Land Scotland car park at the south end of Benderloch, climbing a marked path through spruce and birch onto the open heather crest. A short rocky pull leads to the trig pillar and an open viewpoint set with benches and orientation panels.
Terrain
Made path through forestry for the first kilometre, then duck-boarded heather and a stretch of cropped grass to the summit slabs. Some boggy spots remain after the boardwalk ends.
In winter
A coastal hill that almost never holds settled snow — the main winter issue is fallen branches on the forest track after gales, and slippery boardwalk timbers when iced. Headtorch essential outside summer; the woodland blocks late afternoon light.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 20m
- Edinburgh6h 50m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 376
Mobile signal: Good signal on summit; EE reliable. Fine Loch Etive views from this accessible Argyll Marilyn.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:31
- Sunset
- 22:14
- Civil dawn
- 03:26
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Beinn Lora 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
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
10km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
10km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Lora — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Lora?
- Beinn Lora is rated 1/5 (easy) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Made path through forestry for the first kilometre, then duck-boarded heather and a stretch of cropped grass to the summit slabs.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Lora?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Lora 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 Lora?
- 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 Lora?
- Good signal on summit; EE reliable. Fine Loch Etive views from this accessible Argyll Marilyn.
- Is Beinn Lora safe in winter?
- A coastal hill that almost never holds settled snow — the main winter issue is fallen branches on the forest track after gales, and slippery boardwalk timbers when iced. Headtorch essential outside summer; the woodland blocks late afternoon light.
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