Estimated net time	3-3½ hours
Difficulty	No difficulties, but strenuous ascent in partly steep terrain and soft grass.
Drinking water	Several sources of running water below 300 metres, but the quality is unknown.
GSM coverage	Coverage throughout the route except in the summit area (April 2012).
Parking	Room for a few cars around trail head.
Start height	65 metres
Vertical metres	780 metres for the roundtrip.
Trip distance	8.4 km
GPS-file	X
Map		Google Interactive Map
Route photo	Beinn Bhan trail head at Inverskilavulin.

From Fort William drive approximately 2.5 km north on road A82 and turn left onto A830. Follow this road 1.9 km and turn right onto road B8004, and then turn left where signed for "Glenloy" after another 6.7 km. Drive this single-lane road 2.9 km, to where you cross a small bridge, and find parking immediately after the bridge.

Start your hike by walking towards the houses at Inverskilavulin estate, and turn left when you get to the gate. Follow the vague path around the left side of the estate, and then up towards the gully coming down from north. From here on you're likely to come across patches of vague paths, but there are also long sections with no path so there is little point trying to search for a path. Cross the gully where suitable and head north-east up the slopes on the right (east) side of the horse-shoe. When you get up to 700 metres and the terrain gets less steep head north, and you will soon see the summit cairn.

From the summit, which is marked by a concrete cairn and a pile of stones, proceed west in order to follow the horse-shoe counter clock-wise. Descend the grassy west slopes of the horse-shoe, which will take you back to the vague path above the estate. From here follow your ascent route back to the car.

30. April 2012

When we (Håvard and me) woke up Monday morning at The Village Inn in Arrochar it was to a pretty poor sight; it was snow down to 6-700 metres and it was grey and windy. Hence we cancelled our planned hike to the Cobbler and instead decided to drive north in search for better weather. We decided to drive to Fort William, find a hotel there, and then see what we would do.

After we had checked in to the hotel the weather had improved a bit, and I decided to go for a hike while Håvard was doing some shopping and reading his book. After having studied my map I was still unsure where to go, but I knew I wanted to stay below the snow and clouds. I eventually found a good candidate, but there was no obvious route. In order to get some advice I went to the local sports store, and after having waited a while for the right guy I got excellent advice, and was soon on my way towards Beinn Bhan.

The weather had by now improved even further, and despite some wind and grey all around it was fine hiking conditions. At the summit the clouds limited my views towards the Ben Nevis massif, but the views out Loch Linnhe were nice and definitely makes this hike worth the effort.

From the summit I decided to complete the horse shoe by heading west, instead of just descending via my ascent route. The walk from the summit to the west descent is more than 2 km, across an almost flat grass clad area, and was very easy. Just as I started the descent I met two other hikers with a dog, but I was in no mood for conversations so it was just a short "hello". From here it was a steep descent back down to the houses, which required some concentration because of boulder hidden in the grass and heather, with the danger of a twisted ankle.

Back at the car it was a short drive back to Fort William, where Håvard was waiting in the reception of our hotel. He seemed very relaxed, reading his book and enjoying the first pint of the day. And I was soon to follow. Later in the evening we went to a pub to watch Man. City in practice clinching the Premiership by beating Man. United; cash is king!
Photos 30.04.2012