The Scottish Highlands

Beinn an Lochain

Photographs of the Corbett Beinn an Lochain

in the " Arrochar Alps "

above the " Rest and be Thankful "

in the Southern Highlands of Scotland

Traverse of Beinn an Lochain

Winter ascent of Beinn an Lochain

Beinn an Lochain in the Southern Highlands of Scotland

Beinn an Lochain ( 901m )

above the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

Beinn an Lochain was included in Sir Hugh Munro's

original list of Scottish mountains over 3000ft

however subsequent surveys have found it less than

the 914.4m limit for Munro status.

Beinn an Lochan is one of the peaks in the "Arrochar Alps"

Beinn an Lochain

above the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

Beinn an Lochain

from The Cobbler ( Ben Arthur ).

Beinn an Lochain

above the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

Beinn an Lochain from Ben Donich

Beinn an Lochain

from summit of the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

Binnein an Fhidhleir

and Loch Restil

beneath Beinn an Lochain.

Beinn an Lochain

above Loch Restil.

Beinn an Lochain above Loch Restil.

Summit of Beinn an Lochain.

Beinn an Lochain.

Beinn an Lochain

from Binnein an Fhidhleir.

Beinn an Lochain

above Glen Kinglas

from Beinn Chorranach

Beinn an Lochain

from Glen Kinglas.

Beinn an Lochain

from Beinn Dubh.

Beinn an Lochain

from Beinn an t-Seilich

Glen Croe

from the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

The Cobbler and the The Brack

above Glen Croe

and the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

"Rest and be Thankful" road

in Glen Croe

and The Brack

Beinn Narnain, Ben Lomond

and The Cobbler

from Beinn an Lochain

Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain, Ben Lomond

and The Cobbler

from Beinn an Lochain

Beinn Luibhean

from Beinn an Lochain

The Cobbler above Glen Croe

and the "Rest and be Thankful" road.

Ben Vane from Beinn an Lochain.

Binnein an Fhidhleir and Beinn Ime

from Beinn an Lochain.

Location: Near Arrochar
Map: US Landranger 56 [GR 218 080]
Distance: 4km (2.5 miles)
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: Mountain paths

This superb peak stands above Loch Restil and the Rest and Be Thankful, the pass that divides the glaciated troughs of Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas. It's an impressive mountain when viewed from both directions, with a well-deﬁned north-east ridge, which is the line of the
route described here. The best starting point is the lay-by on the west side of the A83, just beyond Loch Restil, where the road starts to descend to Glen Kinglas. Cross over the burn flowing from the loch and follow a path. It is a little ill-deﬁned at ﬁrst, but it aims for and eventually gains the north-east ridge. Once there, the path is quite obvious and it gains height steadily with some short scrambly sections. The crest is surprisingly narrow and rocky — nothing dramatically exposed such as the Aonach Eagach, but with a distinct mountaineering feel to it.
It is also very open to the elements and not a good choice if the wind is howling and the rain lashing, unless that’s just what you’re looling for.
Keep your eyes open for the large granite boulders sitting on the ridge here and there. Like all the mountains in this area, Beinn an Lochain is made from mica schist and these boulders are erratics deposited by a passing glacier. Exactly where they have come from is unclear — Ben Cruachan to the north is granite, as is Glen Lednock near Connie to the north-east.
The route skirts the ﬁrst Line of cliffs via a diagonal left to a tight path above. Care should be taken here, especially during the descent if the ground is wet or snow-covered, because the cliffs lie directly below. The path then regains the ridge forming the south wall of the large north corrie.
Some rock climbing has been done here, but it is best known for the winter snow and ice climbs on its gullies and buttresses.
Avoid the ﬁnal steep section of the ridge on the left and ascend to the top of the ridge and the cairn a short distance beyond. The view from the summit area is particularly good. To the south lie Ben Donich and The Brack with Loch Goil, Loch Long and the Clyde beyond. More to the east lie Ben Ime and The Cobbler’s spiky summit. To the north-east Ben More, Stob Binnein and the Crianlarich hills can be seen. To the north-west Binnein an Fhidhleir on the north side of Glen Kinglas is dominant with Ben Lui and Ben Cruachan in the far distance.
From the summit, a couple of descents are possible. You can either return by the line of ascent, or you can follow the easy summit ridge south to the south top and then weave your way east between the small crags down to the B828 just above the Rest and Be Thankful. The latter makes for a pleasant round, although a short section of the very busy A83 has to be followed alongside Loch Restil back to the lay-by.