Beinn a' Chaorainn

Beinn a’ Chaorainn is a Scottish mountain in the Lochaber region of the Highlands. It stands on the northern side of Glen Spean, about 30 kilometres east-northeast of Fort William. The mountain is one of several with the same name in the Highlands and should not be confused with the better-known Beinn a’ Chaorainn in the Cairngorms. It reaches 1,052 metres and qualifies as both a Munro and a Marilyn. The mountain lies in the Loch Laggan Hills, part of the Grampian Mountains, close to the Creag Meagaidh range and the adjoining Munro of Beinn Teallach. The mountain is usually climbed as part of a 13-kilometre horseshoe walk around the Allt a’ Chaorainn. The route starts at Roughburn on the A86 road and takes in both Beinn a’ Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach. Its name comes from the Gaelic for ‘mountain of the rowan tree’. The best view of the mountain is from the east, where the crags of Coire na h-Uamha give it character. This corrie has several small lochans in its higher parts, though no significant cave is known there. The summit ridge is about 1.5 kilometres long and has three high points. The middle top is now regarded as the highest point, while the South Top was once considered the summit until a survey in 1974 changed this. The North Top is also listed as a ‘Top’ in the Munros Tables. The ridge can be dangerous in winter due to cornices over Coire na h-Uamha. The most popular ascent route starts at Roughburn and takes walkers through forest roads before reaching open hillside at 400 metres. From there, the route follows a broad ridge up to the summit, offering fine views of the Munros around Loch Treig.