logo image RS Home

Beinn a' Bheithir Hike

Beinn a' Bheithir mountain range is next to Ballachulish village, 1 mile west of Glencoe village, 92 miles northwest of Glasgow, with two Munros, the 3,360ft, 1,024m Sgorr Dhearg, and 3,284ft, 1,001m Sgorr Dhonuill, Sgorr Bhan is not classed as a Munro.

The Glasgow to Fort William & Skye Buses stop at Glencoe and Ballachulish.

There are 2 routes up from Ballachulish centre, the safer one up the North Ridge with the best views over Ballachulish and Glencoe, and the East Ridge named Schoolhouse Ridge that has 2 fairly tough Scrambling sections.

For Images on Mobile swipe right

Map 36 Large Images

Click On Map for area Attractions

Camping & Touring Parks in area

The large car park for the hike is in the centre of Ballachulish at the Visitor Centre and Co-op shop.

Walk round from the car park, past the Quarry, straight on past the Playing Fields, over a small Bridge, then up to the left past the School to a small Farm, only takes about 5 minutes.

Once at the Farm, you see the 2 Ridges, the safer North Ridge route leaves from the Farm, the start of this route will be soggy in a wet spell.

The East Ridge / Schoolhouse Ridge with Scrambling starts about 1 mile up the Cart Track past the Farm. Just past an old Gate, you see a good Trail straight up Schoolhouse Ridge.

The Scramble on Schoolhouse Ridge is said to be not too bad as has good foot and hand holds, also you can pic your way up easier ways to the sides. Large Image.

You can go round to the Left of the Scrambling Trail on Schoolhouse Ridge, but that is also a bit dangerous going up through Steep Scree for a few hundred feet, real tough going.

Once on top of the first Peak named Sgorr Bhan, it is an easy hike over to the second Peak that is Sgorr Dhearg, about 200ft down and 400ft back up. If just doing the two tops, is best to go back to Sgorr Bhan then down the North Ridge, a nice days hiking.

The hike over to the third Peak that is Sgorr Dhonuill makes the hike a lot tougher, and a long way back to the Car Park. Hiking over is about 274m / 900ft down and 244m /800ft up to Dhonuill.

The Summit section of Dhonuill has some good looking cliffs, great for pictures. One of the Trails on the summit section takes you right along the top of the Cliffs, very very scary.

There is another faint Trail about 10ft in from the Cliffs that goes over boulders, much safer, but there is another small scramble section close to a high drop just before the Summit that has to be taken with care, nothing difficult though. Dhonuill in thick cloud would be real dangerous. Large Images

Back down, go back to the low point between Sgorr Dhonuill and Sgorr Dhearg at about 730m / 2,400ft for a path down into the Forest.

This Trail starts off steep then there is a Soggy Section at the level part when following the faint trail along an Old Fence, then you get onto a real good Man Made Path at the Forest, or where the trees have been cleared.

Going down the good Forest Trail, you can take the Forest Road round to the right towards St Johns Church 1 mile west of Ballachulish, this is the second Forest Road the Trail crosses.

If you dont want to risk using the Forest Road, keep going down the good well marked Forest Trail towards Glenachulish Car Park, then when the Forest Trail ends, follow the Forest Road downhill beside a large burn with good pools to the Glenachullish Car Park, then follow Cycle Route 78 from the Car Park back to Ballachulish that is 2 and a half miles on the Cycle Route. Forest Road Map at St Johns Church

If they are Clearing Trees in the Forest, you need to go back along the trail out.

If in a Party with more than one Car, best park a car at each Car Park, saves walking 2 and a half miles back to Ballachulish.

The Car Park at Glenachullish would be ideal if only Hiking Sgorr Dhonuill, probably averages 5 hours up and down from there.

The time for the 3 mountains out and back averages 8 hours, about 16km / 10 miles.

Make sure and take an Ordnance Survey Map and Compass on these hikes, and know how to use them, as in cloud, these mountains can be deadly. In Winter, make sure you have Crampons and an Ice Axe, and know how to use them.

Large OS Map . All Mountain Tours

.



Beinn a' Bheithir mountain
.
Beinn a' Bheithir Hiking Map
RS Hiking RS Home