Scotland
Beinn Maol Chaluim
906M
2973FT
About Beinn Maol Chaluim
Hidden behind the towering cliffs of the Bidean nam Bian massif, this rugged Corbett offers a quieter alternative to the famous Glen Coe peaks. Its steep, grassy slopes lead to a narrow summit ridge with dramatic, close-up views of the Great Gully and the wild, winding reaches of Glen Etive.
Key Statistics
Rank
56th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
197m
Nearest Town
Glencoe
Geology
You are walking on tough sandstone and layered schist, cut through by bands of speckled volcanic rock.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN134525
Latitude
56.6279°N
Longitude
5.0420°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic for 'the bald hill of Malcolm,' where 'Maol' (bald or rounded) can also refer to the tonsure of a monk, suggesting a historical link to a follower of Saint Columba.
- •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a unique perspective of the 'back' of the Three Sisters of Glencoe, looking directly into the high, rocky amphitheatres of Coire Gabhail and Coire nan Lochan.
- •The hill is separated from the main Bidean ridge by the deep trough of the Fionn Ghleann, meaning those attempting to combine it with the neighbouring Munros face a punishing 450-metre drop and re-ascent.
- •At 906 metres, it is one of the 'highest misses' in the Scottish Highlands; it sits less than 9 metres short of the 3,000ft threshold required for Munro status.
- •Its classification as a Corbett ensures a level of solitude rarely found nearby; while the crowds swarm the Lost Valley, you are more likely to share the summit only with the views of Ben Starav and the Black Mount.