Munro · Cairngorms
Beinn Dearg
Beinn Dearg (1008m) — "red hill" — is the most prominent Munro in the Forest of Atholl, the remote upland country north of Blair Atholl that historically formed the Atholl Estate deer forest. The hill is a broad, isolated summit with no immediate Munro neighbours, demanding a dedicated approach via the long Glen Tilt or shorter from the Bruar Lodge / Allt Scheicheachan side. The summit views span the Cairngorms to the north, the Beinn a' Ghlo group to the east and the Schiehallion country to the west.
Gaelic: “mountain, red” · Pronunciation: bine jerr-ak
Quick facts
- Height
- 1008.7m/ 3309ft
- Prominence
- 473 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 888 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN852778
- Parking
- NN874664
- Nearest
- Perth· Inverness 70km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
Forest / moorland path 35% · Mountain path 35% · Plateau / boulder field 30%
The most efficient approach is from Old Blair / Blair Atholl, taking the estate track north up Glen Tilt to the Old Blair shooting box, then branching west on a long track to the Allt Scheicheachan bothy. From there climb the south-east ridge of Beinn Dearg directly to the summit cairn — a steady pull on grass and broken rock. Return the same way; a bike for the long estate-track approach is helpful. Around 26km return with 920m of ascent — bike-in cuts effective walking distance.
Terrain
The Atholl estate landrover tracks are excellent for fast bike access through deer forest country. The climb onto Beinn Dearg via the Allt Scheicheachan side is straightforward grass and short heather. The summit area is a broad mossy plateau with a pointed boulder at the high point and a substantial cairn nearby. Navigation off the broad summit in cloud requires care. The Allt Scheicheachan bothy is small and basic.
In winter
A long winter day with serious commitment from the distance involved. The Atholl estate tracks can be drifted closed; in cold settled weather the bike-in approach speeds things up dramatically. The broad summit plateau drifts heavily and offers few navigational features. Phone signal is absent throughout the hills. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator. Allow generous time for the return leg.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 27m
- Edinburgh2h 22m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Signal unreliable above the treeline. The nearest car parks have limited signal (Linn of Dee, Braemar, Cairngorm ski area). Beinn Dearg requires offline maps and independent navigation.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:58
- Sunset
- 21:47
- Civil dawn
- 04:02
- Civil dusk
- 22:42
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Beinn Dearg on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Blair Atholl station
Beinn a Ghlo; Glen Tilt corridor north to the Cairngorms
13km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Blair Athol
Pitlochry — main town distillery and home of Bell's blends
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Dearg — common questions
- How difficult is Beinn Dearg?
- Beinn Dearg carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 888m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The Atholl estate landrover tracks are excellent for fast bike access through deer forest country.
- How prominent is Beinn Dearg?
- Beinn Dearg has 473m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Beinn Dearg?
- Standard parking is at NN874664 near Perth. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Beinn Dearg?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Dearg are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Beinn Dearg?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Dearg?
- Signal unreliable above the treeline. The nearest car parks have limited signal (Linn of Dee, Braemar, Cairngorm ski area). Beinn Dearg requires offline maps and independent navigation.
- Is Beinn Dearg safe in winter?
- A long winter day with serious commitment from the distance involved. The Atholl estate tracks can be drifted closed; in cold settled weather the bike-in approach speeds things up dramatically. The broad summit plateau drifts heavily and offers few navigational features. Phone signal is absent throughout the hills. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator. Allow generous time for the return leg.
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