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…
Glen Coe and Glen Etive
Beinn Fhionnlaidh
A Munro of 959 metres, number 198 of the 282.
The hill
Beinn Fhionnlaidh stands between Glen Creran and Glen Etive in Argyll and Bute, not to be confused with the Beinn Fhionnlaidh of Glen Affric.
Its nearest Munro is Sgurr na h-Ulaidh, about two and a half kilometres to the north-east, and Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach lie further off in the same direction. Beinn Sgulaird is the neighbour on the other side, to the south-west.
Forestry and Land Scotland keeps the forest at the hill's foot in Glen Creran.
- The way up
- Take the start and the way up from a route description and the map.
- Stalking
- Mountaineering Scotland gives the hind stalking season as 21 October to 15 February. Watch for signs, and follow reasonable advice from land managers.
- Under snow
- No avalanche forecast covers this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk here under snow. The service's full forecasts begin on 17 December 2026.
- Summit
- Grid reference NN 095 497
- Glen Creran car park
- Forestry and Land Scotland's free car park is at the end of the public road up Glen Creran, off the A828 at Creagan. The nearest postcode is PA38 4BJ.
- Toilets and food
- None at the car park. The nearest public toilets, shop and café are at Port Appin.
On the hill today
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, Met Office Southwest Highlands forecast, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, 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.
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 095 497
- 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 Fhionnlaidh 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.
- The Munros on WalkhighlandsFull route descriptions with maps. Of its two hills called Beinn Fhionnlaidh, choose the one between Glen Creran and Glen Etive, not the one in Glen Affricwalkhighlands.co.ukThe route↗
- Glen CreranForestry and Land Scotland's pages for the car park and the forestforestryandland.gov.scotThe car park↗
- Deer stalking, from Mountaineering ScotlandWhen stags and hinds are stalked, and how to check before you gomountaineering.scotStalking↗
- ThinkWINTERMountaineering Scotland on the hills under snowmountaineering.scotWinter↗
- West Highlands forecastThree days ahead, written by forecasters: the only one of its areas that reaches Glen Creran and Glen Etivemwis.org.ukMountain weather↗
- Met Office Southwest Highlands forecastThe Met Office's mountain forecast for the areaweather.metoffice.gov.ukMountain weather↗
- Beinn FhionnlaidhThe Met Office's forecast for the summit itself: a computer model for one point, not a report from the hill. The Met Office has two hills of this name: this is the one it files under Argyll and Buteweather.metoffice.gov.ukSummit forecast↗
- Scottish Avalanche Information ServiceNo avalanche forecast area covers this hill, and that is never a sign of no risk under snow. The service applies what it learns in Glencoe to outlying mountains such as the Glen Etive range. Full forecasts begin on 17 December 2026sais.gov.ukAvalanche↗
- Glen Creran alertsClosures and notices at the car park and in the forestforestryandland.gov.scotNotices↗
Sleep and eat at its foot
Stormhouse South
Stay: About seven miles from the Glen Creran car park, as the crow flies
Stormhouse North
Stay: About seven miles from the Glen Creran car park, as the crow flies
Woodlands Glencoe
Stay: About seven miles from the Glen Creran car park, as the crow flies
Clachaig Inn
Eat: In Glencoe, with food every day from noon to 9pm
Next along: Sgurr na h-Ulaidh, Beinn Sgulaird, Bidean nam Bian, Stob Coire Sgreamhach. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Forestry and Land Scotland's and Mountaineering Scotland'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.