Beinn Eighe – Up Through the Old Pines onto the Quartzite
About 4 miles on foot.
Beinn Eighe was Britain's first National Nature Reserve, set up in 1951, and its Mountain Trail is a waymarked path up the mountain itself.
It climbs from old Scots pines on the shore of Loch Maree onto bare quartzite, where Slioch stands across the loch and the Torridon peaks crowd round. Lunch afterwards is down Glen Torridon, under the great wall of Liathach, at the brasserie at The Torridon.
- Time
- About three and a half hours for the 6.5 km loop with 563 metres of climbing.
- The path
- A steep, rough mountain path with rock steps and exposed ground near the top.
- Where to start
- The Coille na Glas Leitire car park beside Loch Maree on the A832, with a picnic site.
- Set off
- From November to February, start up by 11am at the latest.
- When to go
- Open hill with no gate: go in daylight and in clear, settled weather. Bo & Muc serves lunch from noon until 3pm.
- Dogs
- Under close control on the open hill, under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
- Children
- A steep mountain path with exposed ground near the top: for older children used to hills.
- Toilets
- At the Beinn Eighe visitor centre near Kinlochewe, from April to October.
- Before you set out
- NatureScot looks after the reserve and posts any path notices on its own page.
The walk
The trail starts from the Coille na Glas Leitire car park beside Loch Maree on the A832, about a mile and three-quarters north-west of the Beinn Eighe visitor centre, with a picnic site by the water. It's a loop of 6.5 km, or 4 miles, with 563 metres of climbing, and takes about three and a half hours. It goes under the road and up through the Wood of the Grey Slope, among pines more than 350 years old. Then it comes out onto open mountain on steps cut into the rock, up to the Conservation Cairn at about 550 metres, the high point, among ice-scraped quartzite slabs and lochans.
It comes down past more lochans with Slioch across Loch Maree, and back through the pines and birches. It's steep and rough, with exposed ground near the top where you watch for the marker cairns, so wear boots, take waterproofs, food and water, and go in clear, settled weather. In snow and ice it needs winter skills; on a wintry day take the short Woodland Trail from the same car park instead. From November to February set off by 10am, to be down before dark and at the hotel in time for lunch.
The nearest toilets are at the visitor centre near Kinlochewe, from April to October. Keep dogs under close control on the open hill.
If it rains
In rain, low cloud or wind the top of the Mountain Trail is exposed and the cairns are hard to follow: take the 1.5 km Woodland Trail through the pines from the same car park instead, and keep the climb for a clear day. Lunch is under a roof.
Afterwards
27 min by car
Bo & Muc Brasserie
Lunch
Lunch is at Bo & Muc, The Torridon's brasserie, 100 metres from the hotel at the head of Loch Torridon, 27 minutes' drive away by Kinlochewe and down Glen Torridon. It serves lunch from noon until 3pm, so set off up the trail by 10am; the menu leans on the resort's own Highland beef and pork from its farm, vegetables from its Victorian kitchen garden and local shellfish. Booking is recommended, online or on 01445 791242, and walk-ins are welcome when there's room. It's cashless. The Torridon posts its winter hours on its site, so check before going from November, and over Christmas and New Year. If you are down too late for lunch, or it's full, the resort's Beinn Bar serves drinks and snacks from 11am, and welcomes muddy boots and paws.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Rhuroin, 6 miles away. Sleeps 3.
Book lunch at Bo & Muc Brasserie
Book a table for lunch at Bo & Muc Brasserie at The Torridon, online or on 01445 791242, for about 2pm after the trail: lunch is served from noon until 3pm, and The Torridon posts its winter hours on its own site.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve Visitor centre via Google