How difficult is Beinn Narnain?

Beinn Narnain carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 11km, 1050m of ascent and a 4-6 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The Succoth zig-zags rise steeply through commercial forestry on a worn boggy path.

How prominent is Beinn Narnain?

Beinn Narnain has 290m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.

Where should I park to climb Beinn Narnain?

Standard parking is at NN294049. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.

When should I climb Beinn Narnain?

The standard good-weather months for Beinn Narnain 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 Narnain?

On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.

By Gary

Photo: Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Arrochar & Trossachs

Beinn Narnain

Beinn Narnain (926m) is the central peak of the classic Arrochar trio above Loch Long, sitting between The Cobbler and Beinn Ime. It is recognised by the curious Spearhead — a leaning rock pinnacle on the final pull — and a flat summit plateau topped by a trig point. The hill has a tougher, more direct character than its neighbours and is a Glasgow weekend favourite.

Quick facts

Height: 926.8m/ 3041ft
Prominence: 290 m
Distance: ~11 km
Ascent: ~1050 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN271066
Parking: NN294049
Nearest city: Oban· 47km
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

Forest path 30% · Open hillside 45% · Summit area 25%

11km · 1050m ascent · 4 hrs

Start from the large car park at Succoth at the head of Loch Long. Climb the steep zig-zags through forestry up the Allt Sugach to the Bealach a' Mhaim, then turn south-east up the rocky shoulder past the Spearhead pinnacle. Many parties traverse north-west afterwards to take in Beinn Ime, returning by the same bealach. Around 11km return with 1050m of ascent for Narnain alone.

Terrain

The Succoth zig-zags rise steeply through commercial forestry on a worn boggy path. Above the bealach the angle eases onto rocky mica-schist with one short scrambling step at the Spearhead. The summit plateau is broad rock slabs with a trig point set in a shallow stone shelter.

In winter

A genuinely wintry hill despite its southerly latitude — the Arrochar Alps catch heavy snowfall from south-westerlies. The Spearhead step ices reliably and the summit slabs become slippery glass. Check MWIS West Highlands. Daylight is reasonable and the A83 stays open in normal conditions.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn Narnain. 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 West 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

Glasgow1h 15m
Edinburgh2h 12m

Parking: NN294049

OS maps: OS Landranger 56

Mobile signal: Good signal at Arrochar village and along the A83. Bars drop away above 700m.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 44mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:34
Sunset: 20:00
Civil dawn: 05:55
Civil dusk: 20:39

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Narnain.

Two-hill day
Beinn Narnain + Beinn Ime
Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime form the classic Arrochar double — two summits linked by a broad ridge and both accessible from the A83.
16km · 1200m ascent · 7 hrs

On a long-distance route

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

Cowal Way1.4km

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Around Beinn Narnain on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Luss

West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way

16km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Loch Lomond

Alexandria — sprawling distillery on the south end of the loch

29km from the hill

tastescot.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 Narnain — common questions

How difficult is Beinn Narnain?: Beinn Narnain carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 11km, 1050m of ascent and a 4-6 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The Succoth zig-zags rise steeply through commercial forestry on a worn boggy path.
How prominent is Beinn Narnain?: Beinn Narnain has 290m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
Where should I park to climb Beinn Narnain?: Standard parking is at NN294049. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
When should I climb Beinn Narnain?: The standard good-weather months for Beinn Narnain 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 Narnain?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
What's mobile reception like on Beinn Narnain?: Good signal at Arrochar village and along the A83. Bars drop away above 700m.
Is Beinn Narnain safe in winter?: A genuinely wintry hill despite its southerly latitude — the Arrochar Alps catch heavy snowfall from south-westerlies. The Spearhead step ices reliably and the summit slabs become slippery glass. Check MWIS West Highlands. Daylight is reasonable and the A83 stays open in normal conditions.

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