Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn a' Chochuill
Beinn a' Chochuill (980m) — "hill of the hood" — is the western half of the Glen Strae two-Munro pair above Loch Awe, alongside Beinn Eunaich. The hill is the broader and lower of the two and gives a fine open ridge linking eastward to Eunaich. Together with Eunaich it forms one of the quieter Argyll horseshoes — a fine alternative to the busy Ben Cruachan group across Glen Noe.
Quick facts
- Height
- 980m/ 3215ft
- Prominence
- 252 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 862 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN109328
- Parking
- NN137287
- Nearest city
- Oban· 25km
- 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
Glen Strae track 30% · Open hillside 40% · Ridge walk 30%
See Beinn Eunaich for the standard pair route from Stronmilchan above Dalmally. As a single Munro, Beinn a' Chochuill is reached by descending the long south-west ridge from the bealach between the pair — a sustained but easy line. The cairn at the summit sits on a small rock slab on a broad rounded top.
Terrain
The Stronmilchan estate track is firm landrover surface for the long approach. The Beinn a' Chochuill summit area is a broad rounded top with the small cairn on a rock slab. The connecting ridge east to Beinn Eunaich is broad mossy turf with one gentle bealach. The descent off the south-west ridge is sustained heathery hillside back to the road.
In winter
A reasonably gentle Argyll winter pair. The broad open ridges drift but offer few avalanche-prone slopes. The Stronmilchan estate track usually stays passable. Mobile reception at Loch Awe village is decent but fades on the higher ground.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 46m
- Edinburgh3h 44m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Loch Awe village. Signal drops off above 700m on the Glen Strae hills. Preload mapping before heading up.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:51
- Sunset
- 20:58
- Civil dawn
- 05:07
- Civil dusk
- 21:42
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 August 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn a' Chochuill.
Around Beinn a' Chochuill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn a' Chochuill — common questions
- How difficult is Beinn a' Chochuill?
- Beinn a' Chochuill carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 862m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: The Stronmilchan estate track is firm landrover surface for the long approach.
- What is Beinn a' Chochuill's prominence?
- 252m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn a' Chochuill to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Beinn a' Chochuill?
- Most walkers start from NN137287. 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' Chochuill?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Chochuill. 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' Chochuill 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' Chochuill?
- Reasonable signal at Loch Awe village. Signal drops off above 700m on the Glen Strae hills. Preload mapping before heading up.
- Is Beinn a' Chochuill safe in winter?
- A reasonably gentle Argyll winter pair. The broad open ridges drift but offer few avalanche-prone slopes. The Stronmilchan estate track usually stays passable. Mobile reception at Loch Awe village is decent but fades on the higher ground.
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