Scotland
Beinn Churalain
549M
1801FT
About Beinn Churalain
Rising steeply above the eastern shores of Loch Creran, this substantial Marilyn offers a rugged, pathless ascent through bracken and heather. Its position on the edge of the Grampians provides an exceptional perspective of the higher peaks, feeling far more remote than its sub-600m stature might suggest.
Key Statistics
Rank
181st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
176m
Nearest Town
Argyll and Bute
Geology
You are walking across a foundation of tough quartzite, slate, and hardened sandstone and mudstone. These compressed rocks form the rugged slopes of this fell.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM990461
Latitude
56.5640°N
Longitude
5.2722°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Chùralain. While the exact meaning is debated, it is closely tied to the surrounding Forest of Creran, an area historically significant for its ancient oakwoods and iron smelting.
- •From the summit cairn, there is a commanding view directly across the glen to the towering bulk of Beinn Sgulaird, while the Lynn of Lorne and the hills of Mull are often visible to the west.
- •The ascent from the head of Glen Creran is notoriously steep and lacks a formal path, requiring steady footwork through dense vegetation and over occasional rocky outcrops.
- •The hill overlooks the Glasdrum Wood National Nature Reserve, which is internationally recognised for its rare butterflies, such as the Chequered Skipper, and its temperate rainforest lichens.
- •It is the kind of hill that teaches a walker exactly why the term 'contouring' was invented, usually about halfway up its unrelenting southern flank.