Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chlèibh

Summary

Ben Lui is regarded as one of the grandest and most elegant mountains in the Southern Highlands, with a magnificent appearance when seen up the Cononish Glen from Dalrigh. The shortest route to it is from Glen Lochy, enabling easy inclusion of its less impressive neighbour Beinn a'Chlèibh.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

It is necessary to cross the River Lochy near the start of the walk - there is no bridge and it usually requires a wade and would be impassable in spate. There are some very boggy sections in the forest, and the lower slopes are wet, pathless and grassy, eventually giving way to steeper rocky terrain.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Getting there

Start

Car park (charge - app only) off A85 in Glen Lochy.

Public Transport

Regular buses pass along the A85 en route to Oban.

Start Grid Ref

NN239278

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 10km / 6.25 miles
Time (summer conditions): 5 - 7 hours
Ascent: 1078m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Munro: Ben Lui
Munro: Beinn a' Chlèibh

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Walk Description

User reports (69)

Stage 1

Park in the car park (charge) off to the left of the A85 at NN239278. A good path leaves this and heads for the river Lochy. The path goes to the right along the bank of the river - head along it, looking for the most convenient place to cross. The Lochy is a wide river but usually shallow enough to wade; it can be crossed easily in very dry conditions, whilst in spate any crossing would be very dangerous or even impossible. On the far side is the railway - crossing over the lines here is a criminal offence. Instead use the low bridge through which the Eas Dàimh flows under the line to join the Lochy - here a metal grid provides access for walkers that should keep your feet dry in most conditions (again, impassable in spate); you will need to stoop!

Stage 2

The path continues through a felled area and then through the trees alongside the burn. After 500m a confluence of burns is reached - ensure you cross the Eas Dàimh here and instead follow the burn from the Fionn Choire beyond - both burns have paths alongside. Soon after this, in another felled area, cross the Fionn Choire burn to reach and pass through a gate in a deer fence. From just beyond this a rough track leads uphill through cleared forest until you reach a main forest track at around 300m. Turn left along this until reaching a bridge over the Fionn Choire; immediately after this turn right onto a path that again heads up steeply through the trees. Some sections are very boggy.

Stage 3

The path thankfully leaves the forestry at a metal gate at around 490 metres in Fionn Choire. From here you could make directly for the bealach between the two peaks, but it gives more variety to leave that route for the descent. Instead climb directly to the east - a featureless, initially soggy, pathless and unremitting but mostly grassy ascent that leads eventually to the north ridge of Ben Lui. There are great views looking back over Glen Lochy.

Stage 4

From here the climb becomes much more enjoyable; turn right up the still steep ridge, rocky in places, which becomes increasingly well defined. There is a cairn marking the northwest summit, and walkers coming up from the ridge enclosing Coire Gaothach join the route here.

Stage 5

The higher southeastern summit is a short distance further across a dip. At 1130m Ben Lui is one of the highest and probably the finest Munro in the southern Highlands. The cairn has a magnificent situation right on the edge of the great Coire Gaothach which usually holds snow into early summer and has a classic winter climb known as Central Gully - for mountaineers.

Stage 6

From here the neighbouring Munro of Beinn a'Chlèibh looks quite insignificant. To begin the descend down the broad ridge towards it, retrace your steps off the summit to find the top of a path. This leads down a long, broad slope to reach the bealach.

Stage 7

From the bealach the zig-zags its way up the ridge beyond to reach the spacious plateau; the summit is marked by a cairn at 916m. Beinn a'Cheibh seems quite an anti-climax after Ben Lui but it too looks a fine peak when seen from the A85 road to the north; it presents a fierce rocky wall in this direction, so it is best to return to the bealach above Coire Fionn.

Stage 8

Enjoy the last of the days fine views, over towards Ben Cruachan. The initial descent from the bealach is very steep so care should be taken. Further down the terrain becomes much easier and follows the Fionn Choirein burn directly down to where the path emerged from the forest at the steel gate early in the day. Retrace your outward route back down through the trees to the start. You probably won't mind getting wet feet in the Lochy for the last few metres to the car park.

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