Beinn Fhionnlaidh

Beinn Fhionnlaidh stands in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, a broad massif rising to 959 metres between Glen Creran and Glen Etive. Its Gaelic name means Finlay’s mountain, linking it to the land’s history. The peak is classed as a Munro and a Marilyn, yet it sees fewer climbers than many neighbours. To the north and west the slopes drop steeply into Glen Creran, while the southern flanks fall towards Glen Ure and a side valley called Allt Bealach na h-Innsig. Eastwards the massif ends above Glen Etive with an unnamed top at 841 metres and, further south, the lower Meall nan Gobhar at 595 metres. The mountain offers two main routes to the summit. From the west walkers start at Elleric, where the public road ends in Glen Creran, and follow a broad, gently rising west ridge past the private Glenure Lodge. The ascent is steady and straightforward until the final narrowing to the top. From the east the climb begins at Invercharnan in Glen Etive, heading steeply uphill above the Allt Gaoirean burn. After a short scramble on the connecting ridge between the east top and the main summit, the route reaches the highest point. On the summit the view stretches across Glen Coe and the surrounding ranges. The long whaleback ridge and the rocky crags on every side show why this mountain is less crowded. From the unnamed east top the eye travels down to Glen Etive, while the west ridge drops gradually into Glen Creran. The contrast between the gentle western slopes and the sharper eastern ridges gives the mountain its character.