Beinn Lora, Benderloch
OBAN AND NORTH LORN
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Highlands
1. From the Beinn Lora car park in Benderloch village follow the blue and red waymarked path into the woods. Almost immediately the path forks; take the right hand branch which climbs up through the trees. There are occasional glimpses down to the beach. Keep right (following the waymarkers) when a path goes off left but then follow the waymarkers to the left when some twisted old deciduous trees break up the ranks of conifers.
2. The path then soon leads on to a bench and a fine view down over Benderloch beach. Just beyond is a path junction; the red route continues ahead (and is used on the return), but to make the ascent of Beinn Lora you should turn sharply right, following the blue route. This climbs through the trees – steeply at times, and first runs on one side of a burn and then the other, passing a small waterfall. Further up a signed junction is reached; the left branch visits the Eagle's Eyrie viewpoint. It's probably best to save that for the return walk and to keep right instead.
3. The path runs along the edge of a recently cleared and replanted area of forest and crosses a track before running round the edge of a boggy area marked as Lochan nan Ron on the OS maps. It curves to the right at the far end and rises a little to leave the forest at a bench and a kissing gate. There is a fine view down the coast to the south from here, with Oban clearly visible as well as the airport and Connel bridge. Beinn Lora is visible ahead across a dip.
4. The path – which has now become much rougher – descends to cross the very boggy bealach. Even with waterproof footwear you are quite likely to end up with wet feet on this section! After crossing the dip the path reaches the foot of the final steep grassy slopes of Beinn Lora. Rather than making a direct climb the path swings to the left before finally heading back right to reach the triangulation point on the summit. The views are fantastic on a clear day; the islands of Seil, Kerrera, Mull and Lismore are all well seen together with distant Morvern. The great surprise however is the wonderful views down the other side of the hill, looking along Loch Etive to the Ben Cruachan range.
5. Return across the bealach and back into the forest. It is worth making the small detour to the right to visit the Eagle's Eyrie viewpoint; as the name suggests this is close to the edge of a very steep slope giving a fine aerial view over Benderloch. Return from the viewpoint back to the path and down to the junction with the red waymarked route. This time turn right to follow the path which loops to the north before swinging round and heading back to the car park behind the houses of Benderloch.
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Route profile
Accommodation links for this area:
Argyll and Oban Hotels and Inns
Argyll B&B (Bed and Breakfast)
Self catering cottages in Oban and North Lorn
Argyll and Oban hostels and bunkhouses
