Munro · Central Highlands
Beinn a' Chlachair
Beinn a' Chlachair — "stonemason's hill" — is the 1087m Munro on the north side of Loch Laggan in the Ardverikie Forest, the highest of three Munros that form the long ridge between Loch Laggan and the Aonach Beag plateau. The summit is a cairn on a broad rocky platform with views east across the Ardverikie deer-forest country to the Cairngorms, and west to Ben Alder. The hill is rarely climbed alone; it usually forms part of a three-Munro Ardverikie round.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1087.8m/ 3569ft
- Prominence
- 540 m
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 957 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN471781
- Parking
- NN433830
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 37km
- 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
Estate track 35% · Open hillside 40% · Summit plateau 25%
The standard line is from the small car park at Moy on the A86 east of Loch Laggan. Follow the estate track south up Loch a' Bhealaich Leamhain, then climb the long north-west ridge of Beinn a' Chlachair. Around 18km return with 957m of ascent. Most parties extend to include Geal Charn (Ardverikie) and Creag Pitridh — a three-Munro round of around 25km with 1500m of cumulative ascent.
Terrain
The Ardverikie estate track is firm gravel and bike-friendly to Lochan a' Bhealaich Leamhain. Off the track the climb onto the ridge is rough heather and grass with intermittent path. The summit plateau is broad granite gravel and stones. No exposure on the standard line, but the northern corrie above Lochan a' Bhealaich Leamhain is crag-broken.
In winter
A long winter day in remote country. The Ardverikie plateau picks up sustained snow cover and drifts deep on the broad slopes. Cornicing on the north corrie rims. The A86 corridor is gritted but the Moy track ices over. Phone signal is absent across the route. SAIS Lochaber gives a regional indicator.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 25m
- Edinburgh3h 46m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Dead above 700m in the Ardverikie Forest. Laggan village has occasional signal. Download maps before the journey.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:49
- Civil dawn
- 04:05
- Civil dusk
- 22:44
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn a' Chlachair.
Around Beinn a' Chlachair on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Tulloch station
Loch Treig; Beinn na Lap; Stob Coire Easain / Stob a Choire Mheadhoin approach
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
37km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn a' Chlachair — common questions
- How difficult is Beinn a' Chlachair?
- Beinn a' Chlachair carries a 3/5 (moderately challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 18km, 957m of ascent and a 6-9 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: The Ardverikie estate track is firm gravel and bike-friendly to Lochan a' Bhealaich Leamhain.
- What is Beinn a' Chlachair's prominence?
- 540m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn a' Chlachair to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Beinn a' Chlachair?
- Most walkers start from NN433830. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Chlachair?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Chlachair. 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 a' Chlachair 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 a' Chlachair?
- Dead above 700m in the Ardverikie Forest. Laggan village has occasional signal. Download maps before the journey.
- Is Beinn a' Chlachair safe in winter?
- A long winter day in remote country. The Ardverikie plateau picks up sustained snow cover and drifts deep on the broad slopes. Cornicing on the north corrie rims. The A86 corridor is gritted but the Moy track ices over. Phone signal is absent across the route. SAIS Lochaber gives a regional indicator.
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