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; consult SAIS Southern Cairngorms for the nearest formal forecast.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
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
- 05:05
- Sunset
- 21:49
- Civil dawn
- 04:11
- Civil dusk
- 22:42
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 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.
Getting there: Loch Awe station
East shore Loch Awe; Ben Cruachan; Kilchurn Castle
6km 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 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; consult SAIS Southern Cairngorms for the nearest formal forecast.
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