Scotland
Ben Donich
847M
2777FT
About Ben Donich
Rising prominently above the Rest and be Thankful pass, this distinctive Arrochar Corbett offers a surprisingly rugged ascent. The terrain shifts from forestry tracks to craggy, fissured slopes, leading to a summit ridge with immense views across Glen Croe to Beinn an Lochain and the jagged peaks of The Cobbler.
Key Statistics
Rank
2nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Arran
Prominence
?
557m
Nearest Town
Lochgoilhead
Geology
You are walking on ancient, layered rocks formed from compressed mud and sand. Narrow bands of dark, molten rock also slice through the landscape.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN218043
Latitude
56.1979°N
Longitude
4.8733°W
Did You Know?
- •The name stems from the Gaelic Beinn Dòmhnaich, which translates to 'Sunday Mountain' or 'Mountain of the Lord.' It is a title often given to hills that served as landmarks for travelers or marked parish boundaries.
- •Near the summit, the mountain is scarred by deep, narrow rock fissures and chasms caused by historical slope failure in the mica-schist. These geological cracks require a careful step, especially when hidden by mist or winter snow.
- •The standard ascent from the north-east involves a short, rocky scramble known as the 'bad step.' It is a minor obstacle but provides a satisfying moment of hands-on-rock for those approaching from the A83.
- •From the summit trig point, walkers are rewarded with a direct profile of The Cobbler’s jagged peaks and a long view south over the silver waters of Loch Goil toward the Firth of Clyde.
- •Starting the climb from the high car park at the Rest and Be Thankful means you effectively 'cheat' the first 250 metres of ascent, leaving you with a significantly shorter day than the Corbett status might suggest.