📌 Arrochar Alps, Argyll & Bute
★★★★
The sawtooth profile of Beinn an Lochain’s northeast ridge is an intimidating sight from the top of the Rest and Be Thankful pass on the A83. Amazingly this short, steep route rewards the walker with all the fabulous views you’d expect from a ridge of this shape, but with next to no scrambling. In fact in good weather the greatest barrier to progress is more likely to be the small but potentially serious bog encountered just a few steps from the starting layby. With a total distance of only 3 miles, this is possibly a feasible post-work evening trip from Glasgow during the summer months.
📷 Chronological photo guide
View from near the start 
Easan Dubh 
Upper Glen Kinglas from the foot of the ridge 
Beinn Ime 
Loch Restil 
Lower Glen Kinglas 
Loch Restil & Glen Croe 
Knobbly summit ridge 
View ahead up the ridge 
Upper Glen Kinglas from the middle part of the ascent 
The path is exposed in places but avoids any real difficulties 
A long way down to Loch Restil… 
Spring snow above Glen Croe 
Binnein an Fhìdleir 
Upper part of the ridge 
Beinn an Lochain summit, Ben Lomond in the distance 
Summit area 
Upper Glen Kinglas from the summit 
Ben Donich 
Glen Croe
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A83 0.5 mi north of Loch Restil & 1 mi north of Rest and Be Thankful
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 234088
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.239085,-4.851127
🚌 Bus stops at Rest and Be Thankful summit (1 mi)
🚗 Layby – with further options 0.5 mi north & south
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 720 m | ⌛ 3.5-4.5 hr
Features: 🌊 Easan Dubh waterfall; △ Beinn an Lochain (901 m, Corbett)
⬤ Tough | Clear, narrow path expertly avoids any difficulties, although some exposure for short stretches, and a couple of points where hands may be needed in wet weather. Short but significant boggy section immediately after crossing the burn at the start.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – burn crossing just above Easan Dubh waterfall – Beinn an Lochain summits via northeast ridge – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cuckoos audible above the hum of A83 traffic in the forest at the foot of the ridge.
Weather: Temperatures into the low teens at the bottom, with blue skies and a gentle breeze. Large snow patches around, but none encroaching significantly on the path.
May 2015
