Scotland
Glas Bheinn
472M
1549FT
About Glas Bheinn
Rising as a rugged heathery ridge in the south-east of Islay, this Marilyn offers a wilder, quieter alternative to its higher neighbour, Beinn Bheigier. The ascent involves navigating trackless moorland and peat hags, rewarding walkers with an expansive outlook across the Sound of Jura towards the distant Kintyre Peninsula.
Key Statistics
Rank
44th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
208m
Nearest Town
Ardtalla
Geology
The ground beneath your boots is part of the Jura Quartzite Formation, a very hard and durable rock that shapes these steep slopes.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NR429592
Latitude
55.7577°N
Longitude
6.0983°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Glas Bheinn', meaning 'Grey Hill', likely referring to the pale, weathered quartzite outcrops that punctuate the heather on its upper slopes.
- •It is most commonly climbed as part of a circular walk with Beinn Bheigier; the two peaks are connected by a high, boggy col that remains notoriously saturated even in the height of summer.
- •From the summit cairn, the view to the north-east is dominated by the distinctive profiles of the Paps of Jura, while the southern horizon often reveals the distant cliffs of the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland.
- •The eastern moorlands of Islay surrounding this hill are a prime habitat for golden eagles and red deer, which are frequently spotted on the quieter, pathless ridges away from the island's main distilleries.
- •While the name suggests a grey landscape, anyone attempting the ascent after a typical Atlantic front will find 'Sodden Brown' to be a more accurate description of the underfoot conditions.