At One with the Mountains - An interview with Nick Gardner
Issue 6: Nick Gardner and his wife Janet were living an idyllic life on a croft…
Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps
Beinn Bhuidhe
A Munro of 949 metres, number 216 of the 282.
The hill
Beinn Bhuidhe stands above Glen Fyne, at the head of Loch Fyne in Argyll.
It keeps well apart from other Munros: the nearest, Beinn a' Chleibh, is about eight kilometres to the north-east, with Ben Lui a little beyond.
Ardkinglas Estate covers most of the western side of Glen Fyne. Fyne Ales brews in the same glen, on its founders' family estate at Achadunan, down a narrow lane at the head of Scotland's longest sea loch.
- Distance and time
- Ardkinglas Estate gives it as 21 km and 6 hours, and grades it difficult.
- The start
- The walkers' car park at the head of Loch Fyne. Ardkinglas Estate says there is no vehicle access up the glen.
- The ground
- Ardkinglas Estate covers mostly the western side of Glen Fyne, and its Estate Office is on 01499 600261. Mountaineering Scotland says the first three weeks of October are the busiest of the stag stalking season: follow signs and any reasonable advice from land managers.
- Under snow
- No avalanche forecast covers this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The avalanche service's forecasts begin on 17 December 2026.
- Summit
- Grid reference NN 203 187
- Car park
- Ardkinglas Estate asks you to leave your car in the walkers' car park at the head of the loch. You are welcome to cycle up to the last gate, where there is a bike rack.
- Bus
- Scottish Citylink services 926 and 976 from Glasgow stop at Cairndow War Memorial.
On the hill today
1° to 4°Rain on the summit, 949 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.
West wind to 11 mph, gusting 24
Rain, about 8 mm
Light from 7.52am to 6.17pm, ten hours
Sat 17Mostly clear−1° to 4° on top · 6 mph, gusts 14
Sun 18Clear−2° to 4° on top · 6 mph, gusts 12
Mon 19Cloudy−4° to 6° on top · 8 mph, gusts 18
A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: West Highlands forecast, Beinn Bhuidhe, Argyll and Bute, Southwest Highlands mountain forecast.
October2026
MTWTFSS
Going another day?
Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.
Photographs by Fatima Durrani, Calum Morrison and Benjamin Murtagh, via Google
There is no vehicular access in the glen.Ardkinglas Estate, which keeps the way in
Before you go
Carry
- A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
- Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
- Food and drink
- A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
- A survival bag
- Boots with a good grip
Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.
If something goes wrong
- Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
- Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 203 187
- Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
- Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999
The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.
How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER
From our readers
Nobody has written from Beinn Bhuidhe yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.
Tell the next person
Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.
Read more elsewhere
For the route itself, take the map and read these.
- Beinn Bhuidhe on WalkhighlandsA route description with a mapwalkhighlands.co.ukThe route↗
- Access and walks, by Ardkinglas EstateArdkinglas Estate on the way in from the head of the loch, with its time, length and gradeardkinglas.comThe estate↗
- Ardkinglas Estate's walk leafletsThe estate's own leaflet for the hill, and its Glen Fyne walks leafletardkinglas.comThe leaflet↗
- Fyne AlesThe brewery at the head of the loch, which welcomes visitors seven days a week, 10am to 6pmfyneales.comIn the glen↗
- West Highlands forecastThe Mountain Weather Information Service's forecast for three days ahead, written by forecasters, for the area that by its description takes in Argyll's hills; its area map is the checkmwis.org.ukMountain weather↗
- Beinn Bhuidhe, Argyll and ButeThe Met Office's forecast for the summit itself: a computer model for one point, not a report from the hillweather.metoffice.gov.ukSummit forecast↗
- Southwest Highlands mountain forecastThe Met Office's mountain forecast for the area, the one its summit page links toweather.metoffice.gov.ukMountain weather↗
Next along: Beinn a' Chleibh, Ben Lui, Ben Oss, Ben Vorlich. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Ardkinglas Estate's and Mountaineering Scotland's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.