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A loch lying in a deep corrie between crags, from the high ground at Beinn Dearg.
Ullapool, Ben Wyvis and the far north

Beinn Dearg

A Munro of 1,084 metres, number 57 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Beinn Dearg, "the red mountain", stands near Ullapool in the hills between Loch Broom and Strath Oykel.

Forestry and Land Scotland's forest at Inverlael lies below it, in the mountain's shadow.

It stands a good hundred metres above its nearest neighbours, Meall nan Ceapraichean to the north and Cona' Mheall to the east, both of them within two kilometres, in what the foresters call open, wild country.

It is not to be confused with the Beinn Dearg in Atholl.

Starts from
Forestry and Land Scotland's Inverlael car park, where the popular path up Ben Dearg begins.
Deer stalking
Deer are stalked in this country. Read Mountaineering Scotland's page, linked below, and follow any signs on the day.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, and no forecast does not mean no risk. Forecasting elsewhere begins on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NH 259 811
Car park
Inverlael, on the A835 about 6 miles south of Ullapool, next to a red telephone box. Nearest postcode IV23 2RG. Parking is free.
Vans
A height barrier makes the car park unsuitable for vans.
Toilets and food
No toilets are listed at the car park. Ullapool has places to eat and public toilets.
On the hill today
−1° to 2°Drizzle on the summit, 1,084 m. Feels like −6° in the wind.

West wind to 16 mph, gusting 31
Rain, about 7 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy−1° to 3° on top · 9 mph, gusts 17
Sun 18Cloudy−3° to 4° on top · 10 mph, gusts 19
Mon 19Cloudy−4° to 5° on top · 8 mph, gusts 14

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: The Northwest Highlands forecast, Beinn Dearg, Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

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.

The drystone wall climbing the snowy ridge of Beinn Dearg towards its top.

Photographs by Craig Thomson and Stephan Seidel, via Google

This is open, wild country and you need to be confident at navigating and properly equipped.Forestry and Land Scotland, which keeps the car park at Inverlael
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 NH 259 811
  • 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 Dearg yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Meall nan Ceapraichean, Cona' Mheall, Eididh nan Clach Geala, Am Faochagach. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Forestry and Land Scotland's, Mountaineering Scotland's and Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service'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.