Northwest Highlands
Beinn Eighe (Munro) — Parking
Glas Leitir Car Park (Beinn Eighe NNR) · Grid ref NH 001 650 · No charge published — check the signs on site
Quick facts
- Grid reference
- NH 001 650
- Spaces
- A small NatureScot car park by Loch Maree; no space count is published that we could read.
- Cost
- No charge published — check the signs on site
- Surface
- gravel
Parking charge: No charge published — NatureScot's reserve pages refused our requests (HTTP 403, 28 Oct 2026), so we could not confirm the terms; check the signs on site.
From the car park
From Glas Leitir, the waymarked reserve trails climb through the pinewood above Loch Maree. For the Munro, drive to the Coire Dubh Mor car park on the A896 Torridon road (NG 958 568). From there the path heads south-west from the car park, crossing moorland on a clear stalker's track before climbing into the magnificent Coire Mhic Fhearchair — one of Scotland's finest mountain corries with its triple buttress. The route to the summit ridge continues from the back of the corrie via steep quartzite slopes.
The walk
Beinn Eighe (1,010m) sits in a National Nature Reserve and is one of the great Torridonian peaks. The Coire Mhic Fhearchair route (16km return, 900m ascent) takes in one of Scotland's most spectacular corries — the triple buttresses of pale quartzite above a dark lochan are unforgettable. The ridge walk includes Ruadh-stac Mòr (the Munro summit) and Spidean Coire nan Clach. The waymarked Mountain Trail from this car park gives a shorter circuit with nature reserve interpretation.
Facilities
- NNR information boards
- Trail network markers
Busy times
Beinn Eighe receives far fewer visitors than better-known hills despite its exceptional scenery. Summer weekends in July and August are the busiest, but the corrie itself rarely feels crowded. The nature reserve trails are busy with non-hillwalkers in summer. Autumn (September–October) gives excellent conditions with heather colour and fewer visitors.
Getting here without a car
Westerbus 705 (Shieldaig – Gairloch) runs on weekdays only and has stops "Loch Maree, opp Glas Leitir Car Park" and at the Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre, as well as along the A896 through Torridon (bustimes.org, read 28 Oct 2026). Check the current timetable before relying on it; for most visitors a car is still the practical option.
Winter access
The A896 Torridon road can be snowbound or icy in severe winter weather. The Coire Mhic Fhearchair approach involves moorland paths that can be very boggy after thaw. The summit ridge holds ice and snow from November to April — crampons and ice axe essential in winter conditions. The corrie faces north-west and can be avalanche-prone after heavy snowfall.
Overflow parking
Kinlochewe village, a few kilometres south-east. The Munro route has its own start: the Coire Dubh Mor car park on the A896 (NG 958 568).
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:31
- Sunset
- 16:39
- Civil dawn
- 06:50
- Civil dusk
- 17:20
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is special about Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve?
- The reserve protects ancient Caledonian pine forest, quartzite mountain terrain, and rare wildlife including golden eagles, red squirrels, pine martens, and ospreys on Loch Maree. The Mountain Trail gives access to nature reserve interpretation boards.
- How difficult is Coire Mhic Fhearchair to reach?
- The walk into Coire Mhic Fhearchair from the Coire Dubh Mor car park is a long approach on a good stalker's track across open moorland — accessible for fit walkers without technical mountaineering skills. The walk out from the corrie to the Munro summit involves steep quartzite slopes requiring hillwalking experience.
- Is the Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail the same as the Munro route?
- No — the Mountain Trail from the Glas Leitir car park by Loch Maree is a separate, waymarked trail that gives excellent views without reaching the Munro summit. The Munro route starts from the Coire Dubh Mor car park on the A896 Torridon road (NG 958 568).
- How long does it take to climb Beinn Eighe?
- The Coire Mhic Fhearchair return route takes 6–8 hours for most hillwalkers. The full ridge traverse including Spidean Coire nan Clach is approximately 18km with over 1,000m of ascent — a full mountain day.
Hill days by email
One email a week — new route guides, parking and access updates and seasonal conditions. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.