Beinn Ime – Up the Glen Behind the Cobbler

The walk

The national park's way up Beinn Ime starts from the Succoth car park at the head of Loch Long, close to Arrochar, and comes back the same way. By our map it is about 15 km (9¼ miles) there and back, with about 1,000 metres of climb. Allow about 6 to 7 hours, more with stops, in poor weather or under snow, and leave plenty of daylight for the way down. Forestry and Land Scotland says these hills are unmarked, with a mix of steep, rocky and open ground, and should be attempted by experienced hillwalkers only. There are other ways up, from Butterbridge and from Inveruglas; this walk keeps to the park's.

By car, follow the A82 from Glasgow to Tarbet on Loch Lomond, then turn left on the A83, which reaches Arrochar after a mile, the park says. It calls the start the Succoth car park, five minutes' walk from the village. Argyll and Bute Council's car park at Arrochar on the A83 is Glenloin No 2 (G83 7AL): for 2026/27 it charges £1.20 an hour or £10.30 a day, pay and display from 9am to 6pm every day. The council lists a second, Glenloin No 1, as Luss Estates'. Citylink's coaches from Glasgow to Oban and Campbeltown stop at Arrochar in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Arrochar and Tarbet station is a 1½ mile walk from the car park along a forest path, Forestry and Land Scotland says. The nearest toilets, shops and cafés are in Arrochar village, across the loch.

Before you set off, check the mountain forecast, and under snow the snow and avalanche conditions too, as Mountaineering Scotland advises for every trip. Every Munro needs a good level of fitness and navigational skills, the national park says, and you should be ready for changeable weather. Conditions on the hills are often much colder and windier than at the loch, even on a clear summer day, Forestry and Land Scotland warns. Wear good walking boots and carry warm, waterproof clothing, plenty of food and drink, and a torch in case the day runs long. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, and do not rely only on a phone or GPS. Leave word with someone of where you are going and when you will be back.

By our map the path starts across the A83 from the car park, so cross the road with care: it is a 40 mph road here. The path is signposted, the park says, and climbs through the forest in a long series of zig-zags. Above them it carries on up through the trees and out into a wide glen, the glen of the Allt a' Bhalachain, with the flanks of Beinn Narnain above on the right and the Cobbler ahead on the left. By our map the path crosses several small burns in the glen with no bridge, and higher up it crosses the Allt a' Bhalachain itself, also with no bridge. The owners of the land may be managing deer or farming it, the park says: follow any signs. Keep a dog under close control where there is livestock, and never take one into a field with lambs.

About 4 km up, by our map, a path goes off to the left for the Cobbler. Keep on up the glen to the bealach at its end, the Bealach a' Mhaim, between Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain. Paths go off from here to Beinn Narnain too. It is a Munro of its own and not part of this walk.

From the bealach the path grows fainter, the park says, and there is a little scrambling at the top, though it says this should not pose too many problems. By our map the way climbs the hill's south-east side, and this is the steepest part of the walk. Out on Scotland's hills there are no waymarks or signposts and paths can be hard to follow, Forestry and Land Scotland warns. This is where a map and compass count.

The way up from the bealach is the place to decide. If the cloud is coming down, the wind is rising or anyone is tiring, turn back: Forestry and Land Scotland asks walkers to turn back if they get tired. Under snow it is a winter mountain, and no avalanche forecast covers Beinn Ime. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecasts six other areas, from Lochaber and Glencoe to the Cairngorms and Torridon. That is no sign there is no risk here.

The summit is 1,011 metres, the park says, with a mysterious oval stone enclosure on the top. On a clear day the view takes in the rest of the Arrochar Alps and runs south along the Cowal Peninsula, over moorland, hills, mountains and sea lochs. The name means the butter mountain in Gaelic. Shepherds from Glen Croe once brought their animals to summer here, and the ruins of their shieling huts lie on the slopes facing Glen Kinglas, off this walk.

The way down is the way you came, back to the bealach, down the glen and through the forest to the car park. In cloud, check the line with your map and compass before you leave the top. If someone is hurt, dial 999 and ask for the police, the park says, and give an exact location, a grid reference if you can. Check for ticks after the walk and remove them quickly, Forestry and Land Scotland asks: they can carry Lyme disease.