Munro · Central Highlands
Beinn Teallach
Beinn Teallach (915m) — "forge hill" — earned celebrity in 1984 when re-surveying confirmed it as a Munro at exactly the 3000ft threshold, becoming the lowest Munro in the table. The summit is a small cairn on a flat grassy top above Glen Spean, paired naturally with Beinn a' Chaorainn across the deep Tom Mor bealach. Approaches from the A86 at Roughburn near Loch Laggan.
Quick facts
- Height
- 914.6m/ 3001ft
- Prominence
- 302 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 805 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN361859
- Parking
- NN378813
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 28km
- 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
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Roughburn path 35% · Open hillside 45% · Summit 20%
Park at Roughburn on the A86 east of Spean Bridge. Take the forestry track north past Lochan na h-Earba's western shore, then strike out across boggy ground onto the broad east shoulder of Beinn Teallach. The summit cairn sits at the western end of a long flat top. Most parties continue across the bealach to Beinn a' Chaorainn. Around 14km with 1100m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
Forest track to the open hillside is firm. The east shoulder is rough heather and tussock — very wet underfoot in the lower section. Above 700m the ground turns to short turf and gravel. The connecting bealach to Beinn a' Chaorainn is wide and grassy, easy in good visibility but featureless in cloud.
In winter
A relatively benign winter Munro by Lochaber standards but the broad summit drifts deep and the connection to Beinn a' Chaorainn becomes a navigation puzzle in cloud. SAIS Creag Meagaidh publishes for the area. The Roybridge to Laggan section of the A86 stays gritted but parking can be limited after heavy snowfall.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 37m
- Edinburgh3h 3m
OS maps: OS Landranger 34, OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Nothing above 700m near Roughburn. Spean Bridge or Laggan has 4G. Grab maps before you drive along the A86.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:50
- Civil dawn
- 04:05
- Civil dusk
- 22:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Teallach.
On a long-distance route
Beinn Teallach sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Beinn Teallach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Tulloch station
Loch Treig; Beinn na Lap; Stob Coire Easain / Stob a Choire Mheadhoin approach
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
26km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Teallach — common questions
- Is Beinn Teallach a hard climb?
- Beinn Teallach is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 16km with 805m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: Forest track to the open hillside is firm.
- How prominent is Beinn Teallach?
- Beinn Teallach has 302m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Beinn Teallach?
- Standard parking is at NN378813. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Beinn Teallach?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Teallach 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 Teallach?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Teallach?
- Nothing above 700m near Roughburn. Spean Bridge or Laggan has 4G. Grab maps before you drive along the A86.
- Is Beinn Teallach safe in winter?
- A relatively benign winter Munro by Lochaber standards but the broad summit drifts deep and the connection to Beinn a' Chaorainn becomes a navigation puzzle in cloud. SAIS Creag Meagaidh publishes for the area. The Roybridge to Laggan section of the A86 stays gritted but parking can be limited after heavy snowfall.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.