Beinn Ruadh

About Beinn Ruadh

Dominating the skyline between Loch Eck and Loch Long, this substantial Graham offers a rugged ascent through dense forestry into open moorland. It is a quiet, sprawling mass where the reward is a commanding perspective over the Argyll Forest Park and the jagged, mountainous profiles of the nearby Arrochar Alps.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name Beinn Ruadh translates from Gaelic as the 'Red Hill'. This refers to the russet hues of the dead bracken and grasses that blanket its slopes in autumn, a common naming convention for hills with high concentrations of fern and heather.
• •From the summit, the view looking north-east is dominated by the 'Arrochar Alps', including the distinctive jagged peaks of Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler, while to the west, the long, thin ribbon of Loch Eck sits deep within its glacial trench.
• •Standing at 664.6 metres, it is a Marilyn and a Graham. The latter classification denotes Scottish hills between 2,000 and 2,500 feet with at least 150 metres of prominence, a list often favoured by walkers seeking quieter alternatives to the Munros.
• •Most walkers approach the hill from the Whistlefield Inn on the banks of Loch Eck. The route requires careful navigation through the lower forestry plantations before emerging onto the broad, often pathless ridges that lead to the summit cairn.
• •While the name suggests a vibrant red, the reality of the ascent is often more of a muddy brown, as the plateau is notorious for its deep, peat-blackened bogs that can swallow a walking pole with surprising ease.