Luinne Bheinn

Luinne Bheinn is a 939-metre Munro and Marilyn on the remote Knoydart peninsula in the Highland council area. Its Gaelic name means ‘hill of joy’ or ‘hill of melody’, though some translate it as ‘angry hill’. The name’s unusual word order reflects medieval Viking settlement in the area. The mountain stands eight kilometres east of Inverie, Knoydart’s only sizeable settlement, surrounded by narrow glens and high passes. The peak is one of Britain’s most isolated and difficult Munros to reach. There are no roads on Knoydart, so walkers must start from Inverie, a place served only by ferry from Mallaig. The usual route follows the River Inverie into Gleann an Dubh-Lochain, then climbs via the Bachd Mhic an Tosaich ridge to the summit. Many climbers link Luinne Bheinn with the nearby 946-metre Meall Buidhe in a long, rugged circuit. The summit ridge runs roughly northwest to southeast with two tops, the main one in the northwest and a slightly lower eastern top. From the summit three ridges spread out. One drops northeast into Gleann Unndalain toward Loch Hourn. Another heads east to the Mam Unndalain pass at about 520 metres. The southern ridge encloses Coire Odhar, a rocky corrie dotted with small lochans. The final ridge leads to the Bealach a’ Choire Odhair at 710 metres, where the landscape opens toward the wider Knoydart interior.