Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn Mheadhonach
Beinn Mheadhonach — the middle hill — is a 589m summit between Loch Etive and Loch Creran at NN 064 434, sitting at the centre of the Bonawe peninsula. The flat-topped ridge is composed of slate and quartzite; from the cairn you look down on the Connel narrows and across to Mull's Ben More.
Quick facts
- Height
- 589m/ 1932ft
- Grid ref
- NN 06418 43485
- Nearest city
- Oban· 24km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
From Bonawe village on the north shore of Loch Etive, walk the forestry road around the head of the Bonawe Quarries, then climb the open western flank by pathless heather and short grass. The route follows the broad ridge north to the small summit cairn.
Terrain
Hard quarry road first, then heather and tussock on a broad open ridge with slate outcrops. The hill is dry by Argyll standards but boggy in the saddles between the rises.
In winter
A coastal summit at 589m where light snow can drift on the broad plateau. The main winter concern is wind chill and orientation on the flat top — there are few landmarks. Ice on the quarry road can be sharp after a hard freeze.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 55m
- Edinburgh5h 18m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50, OS Explorer 377W
Mobile signal: Poor. No reliable coverage; EE fails in remote Perthshire glens.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:29
- Sunset
- 22:13
- Civil dawn
- 03:24
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Beinn Mheadhonach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Loch Awe station
East shore Loch Awe; Ben Cruachan; Kilchurn Castle
17km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Mheadhonach — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Mheadhonach?
- Beinn Mheadhonach is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Hard quarry road first, then heather and tussock on a broad open ridge with slate outcrops.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Mheadhonach?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Mheadhonach 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 Mheadhonach?
- 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 Mheadhonach?
- Poor. No reliable coverage; EE fails in remote Perthshire glens.
- Is Beinn Mheadhonach safe in winter?
- A coastal summit at 589m where light snow can drift on the broad plateau. The main winter concern is wind chill and orientation on the flat top — there are few landmarks. Ice on the quarry road can be sharp after a hard freeze.
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