Beinn Bhuidhe - Argyll & Bute, Scotland. - Mountain Summits on Waymarking.com

Beinn Bhuidhe (pronounced ben vooee) meaning the yellow mountain, is a 3,106 foot (948 metre) summit in the south-western area of the Scottish Highlands. The mountain is isolated from the other big peaks in the area and is climbed on its own, usually from a long walk in from the head of Loch Fyne and up the glen.

The mountain is actually the high point of a long ridge that runs north-eastwards between the glens of Shira and Fyne. Despite being prominent when seen from other mountains, the mountain itself remains largely hidden from view for most of the ascent. The summit, which also remains out of view until reached, contains the remains of the stone built Ordnance Survey trig pillar, some of which went into the building of the mis-shapen cairn alongside. Due to its isolated nature the summit is an excellent viewpoint in all directions.

STEEPNESS: Starting from sea level, the ascent is a serious undertaking with the steepest section being the climb onto the ridge.

TERRAIN: Like the mountains in the area of Argyll, it is all grass and rock outcrops. A well worn path up the usual route from the Glen Fyne track takes a mixed course through bracken initially, then through a gorge, before climbing to a levelling which is boggy in places, before the climb up the stony gully to the ridge where the the well worn path is easier to walk on to the summit. NB a newly bulldozed hydro road has been constructed up the hillside from Glen Fyne and reaches the hillside below the climb up to the ridge.

ACCESSIBILITY: The car parking area off the A83 at the head of Loch Fyne is the only real recognised starting route. From here it is four miles up the glen to the old bothy at Inverchorachan where it is a climb of two further miles to the summit. The new bulldozed road is two miles up the glen and around another three to the foot of the climb up to the ridge.

NAVIGATION: The well worn route up has created a path up the mountain to the summit, although it can be difficult to follow in the boggy area between the bulldozed track and the climb up to the ridge. The start of the path at Inverchorachan is at a gate just past the bothy. Once up on the ridge the path is easy to follow straight up to the summit.

DANGER: The path up from Inverchorachan is notorious for an awkward rock step heading up the gorge which requires care and handwork, although it can be avoided by heading up to the higher ground to the left. The new hydro track would avoid all difficulties of the route up from the bothy, but both routes still have to negotiate the stony climb up to the ridge. This can also be avoided by a grassier pathless way up slightly to the north which reaches the ridge on the col with the unnamed north-eastern top.