Beinn na Caillich

About Beinn na Caillich

Rising steeply above the southern shores of Loch Hourn, this rugged peak offers one of the most dramatic coastal perspectives in the Highlands. Its terrain is characteristically Knoydart—steep, pathless in places, and uncompromisingly rocky—leading to a summit that commands an exceptional view across the water to the jagged peaks of the Skye Cuillin.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name translates from Gaelic as 'Mountain of the Old Woman' or 'Mountain of the Crone', a recurring figure in Highland folklore who is often depicted as a personification of winter or a creator of the landscape.
• •It is frequently climbed in tandem with its neighbour, Beinn Bhuidhe; the traverse between the two involves crossing a high, narrow col that provides a feeling of immense isolation from the modern world.
• •The summit provides a quintessential west coast panorama, looking directly down into the fjord-like waters of Loch Hourn with the massive bulk of Ladhar Bheinn dominating the southern horizon.
• •The ascent is notable for its 'sea-to-summit' nature; because the climb starts almost at sea level near Arnisdale, the vertical gain is greater than that found on many significantly higher inland mountains.
• •The southern slopes drop into the wild heart of the Knoydart peninsula, one of the last true wilderness areas in Britain where no roads penetrate the interior.