NN2104 : Ben Donich summit
Rough hillwalk with short easy scrambling

Ben Donich

846m Elevation
557m Prominence
Scotland Country
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NN2104 : Ben Donich summit

Chris Wimbush Photo source

Overview

Ben Donich

Ben Donich is an 846.5 m Corbett above Loch Goil in the Arrochar Alps. The primary summit marker is the trig point at NN2184204301. DoBIH’s October 2025 revision replaced 847 m; this page uses its current elevation rather than the older rounded figure.

Complete return walk

Start at the B828 forest car park, NN227069, near Rest and Be Thankful. Follow the forest track and signed mountain path up the north ridge. A short down-scramble comes before the final ascent. Return over the same step and down the same ridge and forest approach to the car park. Walkhighlands gives 7.5 km, 575 m ascent and 3.5–4.5 hours for this return; adding The Brack makes a different outing.

This is rough mountain walking with a hands-on rock step. Deep fissures, slippery rock and poor visibility deserve particular care; snow can hide the cracks. The summit looks over Loch Goil and surrounding Highland peaks when clear.

Landscape and access

The hillsides include metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of the Beinn Bheula Schist Formation, including metawacke, with local dykes. FLS identifies the northern ascent as a popular hill route.

Use responsible Scottish access, keep clear of forestry operations and take account of current stalking advice. The FLS alerts body checked on 18 October 2026 displayed a tick warning, but this does not establish that the mountain route or A83 is open on your walking day. Check local signs and current road information. The large A83 viewpoint car park is separate from this walk’s start; its facilities and parking details should not be transferred to the B828 car park.

Sources checked: 18 October 2026.

Explore routes near Ben Donich

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Beinn Ime from Succoth

15.1 km ~7h Hard

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The Cobbler from Succoth Carpark

10.5 km ~6h Hard

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Ben Lomond in the trossachs

12.1 km ~5h Hard

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Glen Kin group walk

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Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Ben Donich from the B828 forest car park

Start and finish at the forest car park off the B828 near Rest and Be Thankful (NN227069). Follow the forest track, then the signed Ben Donich path onto the north ridge. Pass carefully among fissured rocks; a short down-scramble precedes the final rise to the trig-point summit. Return by exactly the outward route, climbing back up that rock step and descending the north ridge and forest path to the same car park. Walkhighlands gives 7.5 km, 575 m ascent and 3.5–4.5 hours for the complete return. Any extension to The Brack is outside these figures.

7.5 km Rough hillwalk with short easy scrambling
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Marilyn Corbett Simm High Hills of Britain

Elevation

846m

2,777 ft

Prominence

557m

Coordinates

56.1979, -4.8733

NN218043

OS Map

56

Explorer: OL37N OL39S 363N 364S

At the Summit

The primary summit feature is the trig point at NN2184204301.

Terrain & Geology

Forest track and rough mountain path grassy slopes exposed rock steps and deep fissures.

The Ben Donich hillsides include metawackes of the Beinn Bheula Schist Formation. This metamorphosed sedimentary succession also contains pelite, semipelite and psammite; local igneous dykes occur on the eastern face. The A83 environmental baseline describes this regional geology.

Views & Scenery

Loch Goil and Lochgoilhead, the Arrochar Alps and surrounding southern Highland mountains, subject to visibility.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Forest car park off the B828 near Rest and Be Thankful, NN227069, as used by the Walkhighlands route. This is separate from the large A83 viewpoint car park.

Public Transport

Walkhighlands identifies Rest and Be Thankful bus stops about 400 m from the walk start, with an additional road walk. Check current services and the last return before travelling; no timetable is guaranteed here.

Nearby Facilities

Carry what you need on the mountain. FLS lists the nearest public toilets to the separate Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint car park at Ardgartan; its catering-van availability is not guaranteed.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Deep rock fissures beside the route require care and can be concealed by snow.
  • A short rock down-scramble on ascent must be climbed on the return; wet or icy rock increases difficulty.
  • Mist makes the knolly upper ground harder to navigate; carry a map and compass and do not rely on a path alone.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Ben Donich?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Ben Donich through the maps

Are there other walkers around Ben Donich?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Ben Donich search or of course create your own walk for Ben Donich

Can I organise a walk to Ben Donich?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Ben Donich.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Ben Donich?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Ben Donich here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

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Location

Ben Donich location map

Grid reference: NN218043

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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