Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh Hike

Where: Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh from by Tyndrum in central Scotland
Height: 3,707ft, 1,130m Ben Lui . 3,005ft, 916m, Beinn a'Chleibh

Ben Lui is situated 7 miles west of Tyndrum village on the road to Oban, 62 miles northwest of Glasgow, next to the A85 road.

These Mountains have little Trail and Wet Sections so are normally avoided by Tourist Hikers. Waterproof Boots and Gaiters will be needed all year, although some people go up in trainers in hot spells.

The image below is from the Glen Lochy car park, 7 miles west of Tyndrum village, next to the A85 road with a small charge, pay by phone with 72 hours allowed to pay, was £3 in 2025, a bit more for campers over night.

This is the shortest route onto Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh, but is a bit tricky due to having to cross a River, a Railway, then up through a soggy forest Trail.

The Trail goes up through the Woodland, up the northwest Ridge to Ben Lui, round to Beinn aChleibh, then back down between the Mountains.

Glasgow to Tyndrum Village Road Map.

The image below is of the River Lochy during a dry spell when easy to cross. If it has been raining, you will need wellies to cross or a pair of heavy duty bin liners might do as boot covers, can leave them at the other side till you come back.

Some people are now taking wellies and boots, leaving the wellies at the top of the boggy woodland trail, then getting them back on when going back down the same trail.

The most shallow part of the River is straight down from the Car Park, then up to the left 50 yards at a bend. Cross over then follow the path right, down to the Railway Bridge.

The image below is of the Railway Bridge about 200 yards to the right after you cross the River, may need Scuba Gear to get under it if there has been a lot of rain. You are not meant to cross the Railway.

The image below is of the Trail up through the Woodland, follow this Trail and Burn all the way up to the top of the Trees. The Burn will be right next to the Trail all the way. Some people go up through the trees next to the Trail at the Boggy sections higher up.

They cleared the larger Trees here in 2013, with this pic taken in 2025 showing what is left to be cleared once they are larger.

Be interesting to see if they put a Path in at the Boggy sections after they clear the Trees as Ben Lui is becomming a popular Mountain with Tourists.

The image below is where the trail through the woodland ends at about 1,500ft, so about 2,200ft to go to the summit. There is only a faint trail up towards the rocky ridge, then there is a good trail to the summit.

Some people hide their wellies in the trees here then get the hiking boots on for the top section.

The steepest part of the rocky ridge has two little scrambling sections, the one to the left is over cliffs with ice on it up to April, and another a bit to the right that is a lot safer.

The summit of Ben Lui is one of the best in Scotland, just watch out for the cliffs all along the left side here.

The image below is of the same trail back down off Ben Lui showing the trees that have been cleared and the ones still to be cleared.

If going over to Beinn a'Chleibh, it is a straight foward trail over, then go back the same trail to the low point between the mountains, then down a trail from there to the same woodland path seen below.

Large Image of the Beinn a'Chleibh trail.

The image below is from the north where there is a car park at Dalrigh, 1 mile east of Tyndrum village next to the A82. This is a less adventurous route onto Ben Lui, but is a 4 mile hike or bike along a farm road to the side of Ben Lui.

This route is best if there has been a lot of rain, as the River Lochy may be un-crossable at the Glen Lochy car park.

This north side has two cracking Ridges, also popular for Ice Climbing in winter as it gets little sun, with Snow and Ice between the two Ridges many months in the year, known as the Central Gully. Ice Climb Video

If going out this way, the left side Ridge is the safest as is Solid Rock most of the way, the right side Ridge has a few steep sections with scree. Both ridges have some danger, so best avoided by hikers with little experience.

Large Image of the two North Ridges.

Dalrigh is the main Car Park for the 3,375ft Ben Oss and 3,208ft Beinn Dubhchraig.

The Map below shows the routes onto Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh. Doing the four 3,000ft plus mountains here in one day is real tough going. Getting dropped off at Glen Lochy and picked up at Dalrigh would make it easier. Using two cars is an option.

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.

Hill Walking OS Map

Tyndrum Photo Tour

Ben Lui Photo Tour to the Top from Glen Lochy with many large images

Ben Lui Photo Tour to the top from Dalrigh