Marilyn · islands
Beinn Mhor
Big Hill, the high point of the Oa peninsula on Islay's wild south-western tip. The American Monument on the nearby clifftop and the seabird-haunted sea cliffs of the Mull of Oa give the area a character quite unlike the rest of the island.
Gaelic: “mountain, peak, big” · Pronunciation: bine vore
Quick facts
- Height
- 202m/ 662ft
- Grid ref
- NR 29481 40455
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 50% · rough grassland 30% · granite/schist 20%
From the RSPB car park at the end of the Oa road, follow waymarked tracks past the American Monument and then strike north-east across rough moor to the summit. Around 7km return and easily managed in two to three hours.
Terrain
Short-cropped maritime grassland near the cliffs gives way to tussock and bog inland. Choughs and golden eagles are sometimes seen on the Oa.
In winter
Snow is very unusual on the Oa; the real winter challenges are the screaming Atlantic gales and short daylight. Pick a settled day and a low tide for the cliff approach.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 20m
- Edinburgh8h 5m
OS maps: OS Landranger 60, OS Explorer 352
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE works near Port Ellen but is patchy on the Oa moor itself.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:28
- Civil dawn
- 04:26
- Civil dusk
- 22:17
NOAA Solar Calculator · 15 May 2026