Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 13 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
Hikes to Beinn Mhor take you to a uniquely awesome viewpoint. As the highest mountain on the Cowal Peninsula, its prominence delivers an unforgettable panorama of the Southern Highlands and the islands off the western seaboard.
A less-frequently visited part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Beinn Mhor is the ideal expedition if you like your adventures to be slightly off the beaten track. It is the central hub of five distinct ridges, the south east of which branches off to form a complex tangle of high ground, finally terminating above Benmore.
The peninsula can be accessed via the Rest and be Thankful pass through the Arrochar Alps or via ferry to Dunoon, the region’s main town. Accommodation can be sought here or campsites and lodges can be sought around Benmore at the southern end of Loch Eck.
The most easily accessible walking routes to Beinn Mhor start from the forestries in Glen Massan, taking in the spectacular Massan Falls en route. Alternatively, from Benmore Botanic Garden you can access the undulating A’Chruach ridge system that makes a beeline for the upper echelons of the mountain.
Once onto the high moorland, the going can often be boggy, so waterproof boots are recommended. Much of the mountain’s higher ground is pathless. However, the terrain is kind and the grass short, making for straightforward hillwalking in all but the most challenging conditions. If bringing the kids along for the ride, summer conditions are best as winter conditions may require the use of crampons and axes.
Once you reach the summit trig point, you’ll have become accustomed to the awe-inspiring views. Ben Cruachan’s majestic form can be seen in the distant north, whilst the Isles of Jura, Islay and Mull rest in the sea beyond Kintyre. The Isle of Arran’s uncompromising terrain rises above the Firth of Clyde to the south and inland are the rugged mountains of the Arrochar Alps. Few places in Britain hold a candle to a view this special.
An enjoyable walk from Glen Massen with steady walk up forestry tracks to warm up. We took a direct line from the trees up to the ridge where there is an ATV track leading to the summit. Beautiful views across the Southern Highlands.
February 10, 2022
Path can be hard to find once out in the open past the treeline. Trig point only comes into view the last 100ish meters
December 28, 2020
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