Marilyn · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn nam Beathrach
Beinn nam Beathrach is a quiet 582m hill set back in central Morvern, north of Loch Aline. The name has been variously interpreted but probably refers to thunder or bears (the latter long extinct here). From the rounded summit the view spans the empty Morvern interior, with Mull visible beyond the Sound to the southwest.
Quick facts
- Height
- 582m/ 1909ft
- Prominence
- 313 m
- Grid ref
- NM 75227 57254
- Nearest city
- Oban· 29km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
heather and bog 60% · birch woodland 15% · rocky slopes 25%
Approach from the Loch Aline road, following forestry tracks west and then climbing open hillside through a gap in the plantation. The summit dome rises gently from the surrounding moor. Allow four to five hours including the long forestry walk.
Terrain
Forestry tracks for the approach, then open peat moor that can be very wet after rain. The summit dome itself is short turf and small outcrops — easy underfoot.
In winter
A peaceful low-grade winter outing. Snow rarely lasts long but the frozen forestry ditches catch the unwary. Visibility on the broad summit needs compass work in cloud.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 12m
- Edinburgh7h 40m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 383E, OS Explorer 383W
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal absent the whole way. Download maps offline before departure.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:19
- Sunset
- 21:39
- Civil dawn
- 04:28
- Civil dusk
- 22:30
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Beinn nam Beathrach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Glenfinnan station
Glenfinnan Viaduct; Streap, Sgurr Thuilm, Glen Finnan Munros
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Tobermory
Mull base — Ben More, Treshnish, ferry to Iona
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tobermory
Mull — colourful harbour-front distillery making both unpeated and peated (Ledaig) whisky
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn nam Beathrach — common questions
- How difficult is Beinn nam Beathrach?
- Beinn nam Beathrach carries a 2/5 (moderate) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Underfoot: Forestry tracks for the approach, then open peat moor that can be very wet after rain.
- What is Beinn nam Beathrach's prominence?
- 313m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn nam Beathrach to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn nam Beathrach?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn nam Beathrach. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Beinn nam Beathrach dog-friendly?
- 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 nam Beathrach?
- Poor. Signal absent the whole way. Download maps offline before departure.
- Is Beinn nam Beathrach safe in winter?
- A peaceful low-grade winter outing. Snow rarely lasts long but the frozen forestry ditches catch the unwary. Visibility on the broad summit needs compass work in cloud.
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