Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Beinn a' Chochuill
Beinn a' Chochuill (980m) is a prominent mountain in the dramatic mountains between Glen Coe and Lochaber. Its 252m of re-ascent gives it a distinct identity — this is no subsidiary top but a hill worth visiting in its own right. The summit, marked by a cairn on rock slab, gives views of sea lochs, dramatic ridges and the peaks of the western Highlands. The nearest town is Oban in Argyll and Bute.
Gaelic: “mountain, peak” · Pronunciation: bine
Quick facts
- Height
- 980m/ 3215ft
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 862 m
- Time
- 4.8 hrs
- Difficulty
- 4 / 5Strenuous
- Grid ref
- NN109328
- Parking
- NN12723279
- Nearest city
- Oban
Download GPX route file
Standard route · 17km
Standard route
The standard route is a longer walk with a gradual approach covering approximately 17km with 862m of total ascent — a full day on the hill. Lower slopes cross steep-sided glens with birch and oak woodland. Higher up, the terrain changes to volcanic and metamorphic rock, steep ridges and buttresses. Good stalkers' paths on popular routes but remote sections, particularly around Knoydart, are rough and pathless. The summit is marked by a cairn on rock slab.
Terrain
Above 700m the ground is fully exposed to weather from all directions. Good stalkers' paths on popular routes but remote sections, particularly around Knoydart, are rough and pathless. The connecting ridges to adjacent hills are well-defined but involve noticeable re-ascent.
In winter
In winter, Beinn a' Chochuill is a serious proposition. Heavy snowfall and rapid freeze-thaw cycles make conditions changeable. Avalanche risk on steeper slopes is real — check the SAIS forecast before heading out. Daylight is limited in midwinter but marginally better this far south than in the Highlands.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 46m
- Edinburgh3h 44m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:49
- Sunset
- 20:47
- Civil dawn
- 05:06
- Civil dusk
- 21:31
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 April 2026