Scotland
Beinn Bhreac
191M
627FT
About Beinn Bhreac
Rising above the northern coastline of Barra, this modest but significant Hebridean Marilyn offers an effortless introduction to the island’s rugged interior. Its grassy, rock-strewn slopes provide an ideal vantage point over the Sound of Barra, with the white sands of Traigh Mhòr and the hills of South Uist clearly visible.
Key Statistics
Rank
210th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
159
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are walking on rock crushed and reshaped by an ancient fault line. This rugged foundation was ground down by the immense pressure of the Earth’s moving crust.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NB406121
Latitude
58.0222°N
Longitude
6.3933°W
Did You Know?
- •The name stems from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Bhreac, meaning 'Speckled Hill'. This refers to the mottled character of the slopes, where patches of dark heather and green grass are broken up by outcrops of grey Lewisian gneiss.
- •From the summit, walkers are treated to a unique view of the world-famous Barra Airport beach runways at Traigh Mhòr. It is one of the few places where you can watch scheduled flights arrive on a tidal cockle strand from the perspective of a mountain top.
- •The hill is a designated Marilyn, a classification based on its 150-metre prominence rather than its total height. At 191 metres, it is one of the lower hills in the British Isles to hold this status, making it a popular target for peak-baggers visiting the Outer Hebrides.
- •Looking north across the Sound of Barra, the view encompasses a scattering of islands including Gighay, Hellisay, and Fuday, with the larger mass of South Uist forming a substantial backdrop on clear days.
- •The hill is perfectly sized for a short walk between ferry crossings, provided you do not mind the Hebridean wind attempting to return you to the mainland ahead of schedule.