Beinn Mhanach is a Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 mountain situated eight kilometres north-east of the hamlet of Auch.

Overview

From both the West Highland Line

West Highland Line

The West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...

 and the A82 road

A82 road

The A82 is a trunk road in Scotland. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands, running from Glasgow to Inverness, going by Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other...

 between Tyndrum

Tyndrum

Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes...

 and Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy is a landmark hamlet in Argyll, Scotland.Dating back to 1751, it includes a notable tourist hotel. Located at the head of Glen Orchy, it is on the A82 road, has a railway station and is on the West Highland Way long distance path. Nearby prominent peaks include the munros Beinn...

 the two rounded summits of Beinn Achaladair can be seen clearly 8km away due north-east up the Auch Gleann.

Geography

Beinn Achaladair has two summits, the higher of which is 953 metres (3,127 ft). On the southern side the slopes are grassy but the more remote northern side is craggier.

History

Beinn Mhanach derived its name from a monastery that once lay at its foot, and which was used by clan MacGregor when travelling between Glen Lyon

Glen Lyon, Scotland

Glen Lyon is a glen in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland. It is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland and runs for 34 miles from Loch Lyon in the west to the village of Fortingall in the east....

 and their burial ground in Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy is a long glen in Argyll and Bute in Scotland. It runs south-westerly from the Bridge of Orchy to Inverlochy following the River Orchy...

. No trace of the monastery remains today. The poet Duncan Ban MacIntyre

Duncan Bàn MacIntyre

Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir is one of the most renowned of Scottish Gaelic poets and formed an integral part of one of the golden ages of Gaelic poetry in Scotland during the 18th century...

, whose most well-known poem "Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain" celebrated nearby Beinn Dorain

Beinn Dorain

Beinn Dorain , is a mountain located in the Bridge of Orchy hills of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is one of the most recognisable mountains in Scotland, as it curves gracefully up from the West Highland Way...

, lived for a number of years in a cottage, now a ruin and used as a sheep fank, at Ais-an-t-Sidhean at the head of Auch Gleann.

Ascents

There are two popular routes for Beinn Mhanach. One is from near Auch, with parking on the A82 near the private road, up Auch Gleann and past Ais-an-t-Sidhean. To reach the summit dome of the mountain the slopes to the north-east of Beinn a'Chuirn are traversed. The other route starts from Achallader farm at grid reference . This route is often taken when the nearby Beinn Achaladair

Beinn Achaladair

Beinn Achaladair is a Scottish mountain situated six kilometres north east of the hamlet of Bridge of Orchy. The mountain stands on the border of the Perth and Kinross and Argyll and Bute council areas.-Overview:...

 and Beinn a' Chreachain

Beinn a' Chreachain

Beinn a' Chreachain is a Scottish mountain, with a conical top, to the north-west of Loch Lyon.-References:* The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett ISBN 0-0907521-13-4...

are climbed.