How hard is Beinn Fhada?

We grade Beinn Fhada at 5/5, which puts it in very challenging territory. The usual route is around 19km with 1100m of climbing; allow 6-8 hours. Underfoot: The Morvich approach into the Bealach an Sgairne is one of the great Highland glen walks — restored stone pitching for most of its length.

What is Beinn Fhada's prominence?

647m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Fhada to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?

Most walkers start from NG960210. 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 Fhada?

May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Fhada. 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 Fhada dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: John Allan / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Munro · Kintail

Beinn Fhada

Beinn Fhada (1031m) — anglicised as Ben Attow, "the long mountain" — lives up to its name with a vast summit plateau stretching for 5km east-west above Gleann Lichd. The hill is the immediate eastern neighbour of the Five Sisters of Kintail and is usually paired with A' Ghlas-bheinn to its north. The Plaide Mhòr summit plateau is among the largest in Scotland and a serious navigation challenge in cloud.

Gaelic: “mountain, long” · Pronunciation: bine ah-dah

Quick facts

Height: 1031.9m/ 3385ft
Prominence: 647 m
Distance: ~19 km
Ascent: ~1100 m
Time: 6–8 hrs
Difficulty: 5 / 5Expert
Grid ref: NH018192
Parking: NG960210
Nearest city: Fort William· 46km
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

Gleann Lichd path 30% · Open hillside 30% · Summit plateau 40%

19km · 1100m ascent · 5.6 hrs

The classic route is from Morvich at the head of Loch Duich. Walk up Strath Croe and follow the well-built stalkers' path into the Bealach an Sgairne (the "Gates of Affric"). From the bealach turn south-east and climb the steep west spur of Beinn Fhada onto the Plaide Mhòr plateau, then continue east-south-east across the broad summit to the trig pillar. Return either by reversing or by descending south to Gleann Lichd via the Beinn Bhuidhe shoulder. Around 19km with 1100m of ascent.

Terrain

The Morvich approach into the Bealach an Sgairne is one of the great Highland glen walks — restored stone pitching for most of its length. The climb onto the Plaide Mhòr plateau is steep grass with one short rocky step. The summit plateau is a huge expanse of mossy turf and small lochans — beautiful in clear weather but a serious navigation challenge in cloud. The descent off the south side to Gleann Lichd is steep grass.

In winter

A serious winter Kintail Munro. The Plaide Mhòr plateau drifts heavily and the absence of features makes whiteout navigation a true challenge. Cornicing on the north corries (Coire an Sgairne, Coire Dhruim Reidhe) is consistent. Avalanche risk on the steeper headwalls is significant after south-westerly storms. Phone signal absent above the Bealach.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Fhada. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 9m
Edinburgh4h 40m

Parking: NG960210

OS maps: OS Landranger 33

Mobile signal: Signal vanishes above 700m in Kintail. Shiel Bridge and Morvich have occasional coverage. Cache maps ahead of leaving Shiel Bridge.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:35
Sunset: 20:04
Civil dawn: 05:55
Civil dusk: 20:44

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Fhada.

Two-hill day
Beinn Fhada + A' Ghlas-bheinn
Beinn Fhada and A' Ghlas-bheinn from Morvich or Shiel Bridge — a fine Kintail two-Munro day.
20km · 1400m ascent · 8 hrs

On a long-distance route

Beinn Fhada sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.

Affric Kintail Way2.4km

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Around Beinn Fhada on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Plockton station

Coastal Wester Ross; Plockton village; Skye Bridge approach

25km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Torridon

Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin from sea level

39km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Beinn Fhada — common questions

How hard is Beinn Fhada?: We grade Beinn Fhada at 5/5, which puts it in very challenging territory. The usual route is around 19km with 1100m of climbing; allow 6-8 hours. Underfoot: The Morvich approach into the Bealach an Sgairne is one of the great Highland glen walks — restored stone pitching for most of its length.
What is Beinn Fhada's prominence?: 647m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Fhada to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Beinn Fhada?: Most walkers start from NG960210. 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 Fhada?: May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Fhada. 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 Fhada 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 Fhada?: Signal vanishes above 700m in Kintail. Shiel Bridge and Morvich have occasional coverage. Cache maps ahead of leaving Shiel Bridge.
Is Beinn Fhada safe in winter?: A serious winter Kintail Munro. The Plaide Mhòr plateau drifts heavily and the absence of features makes whiteout navigation a true challenge. Cornicing on the north corries (Coire an Sgairne, Coire Dhruim Reidhe) is consistent. Avalanche risk on the steeper headwalls is significant after south-westerly storms. Phone signal absent above the Bealach.

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