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Beinn Ghlas in low golden light, the path curving across its grassy shoulder.
Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon

Beinn Ghlas

A Munro of 1,103 metres, number 47 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Beinn Ghlas stands above Loch Tay on the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve.

Ben Lawers itself is its next-door neighbour, under a kilometre and a half to the north-east, and Meall Corranaich is just as close to the north-west.

The National Trust for Scotland owns the reserve and manages it for conservation and access. The ground is famous for its flora, and Beinn Ghlas is one of the Munros the Trust owns in the Ben Lawers range.

Coire Odhar, the corrie between Beinn Ghlas and Meall Corranaich, has shielings in it. The Trust says more than 40,000 people explore these hills every year, which is a lot of boots on very fragile mountain plants.

The ground
Fragile mountain plants grow here, on hill ground where local farmers hold grazing rights. The Trust asks you to keep to the path as far as possible and to keep dogs under control.
Summit
Grid reference NN 625 404
Car park
The National Trust for Scotland's reserve car park, on the hill road above Loch Tay. Ask the Trust about the charge and the toilets before you set out: 01567 820988 or benlawers@nts.org.uk.
Bus
Perth and Kinross Council lists service 893 between Killin and Aberfeldy along the lochside road, not up to the car park. Its timetable is dated 2018 and runs on schooldays only: check it before relying on it.
On the hill today
−1° to 3°Drizzle on the summit, 1,103 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

North-west wind to 13 mph, gusting 28
Dry, or nearly
Light from 7.50am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−2° to 3° on top · 8 mph, gusts 19
Sun 18Clear−4° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 14
Mon 19Drizzle−6° to 4° on top · 6 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: Southeastern Highlands forecast, West Highlands forecast, South Grampian and Southeast Highlands mountain forecast, Beinn Ghlas, No avalanche forecast for this range.

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.

A walker on the path from the top of Beinn Ghlas towards Ben Lawers, mist lying in the glen beyond.
It is inadvisable to go above there unless you are equipped and experienced for mountain walking.The National Trust for Scotland, of the shielings at 630 metres on the lip of Coire Odhar, where the extension of its trail ends
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 625 404
  • 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 Ghlas 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 Corranaich, Ben Lawers, An Stuc, Meall a' Choire Leith. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are the National Trust for Scotland's and Perth and Kinross Council'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.