Beinn Dubh

About Beinn Dubh

Rising steeply from the western shore of Loch Lomond, this Marilyn is the high point of the grassy Luss Hills. It offers a spectacular perspective across the water to the massif of Ben Lomond and the islands of the Highland Boundary Fault, providing a quieter, moorland alternative to the busier peaks nearby.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Dubh, which translates as 'Black Mountain'. This likely refers to the dark appearance of its heather-clad slopes or the deep shadows cast in its corries when contrasted with the greener, lower grazing lands nearby.
• •This summit forms the apex of the 'Luss Horseshoe', a popular ridge walk that circles the glen. While the climb is relatively short, the ridge remains open and airy throughout, offering constant views of the loch that are arguably superior to those found on the higher Munros.
• •From the summit, the 'line' of the Highland Boundary Fault is clearly visible. Hillwalkers can trace the string of islands including Inchmurrin, Creinch, and Torrinch as they cut a straight path across Loch Lomond, marking the geological transition from the Lowlands to the Highlands.
• •The lower southern slopes were once home to significant slate quarries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the distinctive blue-grey 'Luss Slate' extracted from these hills was a primary roofing material for the expanding city of Glasgow.
• •Despite the name suggesting a 'Black Mountain', the local terrain ensures you are far more likely to return with your gaiters coated in a vibrant, squelchy shade of peat-bog brown.