# Beinn Challuim

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**Beinn Challuim** (English: ***Ben Challum***) is a mountain in the [Breadalbane](/source/Breadalbane,_Scotland) region of the [Scottish Highlands](/source/Scottish_Highlands). It is east of the village of [Tyndrum](/source/Tyndrum), in the Forest of Mamlorn, an ancient [deer forest](/source/Deer_forest) at the northern edge of [Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park](/source/Loch_Lomond_and_the_Trossachs_National_Park). It is a [Munro](/source/Munro) with a height of 1,025 metres (3,363 ft).

## Overview

With a height of 1025 metres (3363 feet) and a [prominence](/source/Topographic_prominence) of 450 metres (1480 feet) Ben Challuim qualifies as a [Munro](/source/Munro) and a [Marilyn](/source/Marilyn_(hill)). It stands at the head of [Glen Lochay](/source/Glen_Lochay) and is a prominent peak when seen from the head of that glen, its western slopes dominate the north eastern side of Strath Fillan. When seen from the south the summit of the mountain cannot be seen, being hidden behind the south top. The mountain name was originally written as Beinn Challuim before Ben Challum became the norm. However in recent years the [Ordnance Survey](/source/Ordnance_Survey) have reverted to using the original name on their maps.

The name translates as "Callum's mountain", which could refer to Saint [Columba](/source/Columba) who is known in [Scottish Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic) as "Calum Cille". With St [Fillan](/source/Fillan)'s priory lying on the south west foothills of the mountain (St Fillan brought Christianity from the monastery of St Columba on Iona into Breadalbane),[1] the Columba connection is feasible.[2]

## Geography

Beinn Challuim is often regarded as a smooth grassy hill mainly because these are the characteristics of the southern and western slopes which are seen by many people from the [A82 road](/source/A82_road) around Strath Fillan. However from the north it shows a more exciting form with a steep and rocky face overlooking the head of Glen Lochay. Beinn Challuim is made up of three ridges, the broad grassy south west ridge descends to Strath Fillan and is used in ascents from there. The north west ridge is steep and rocky and descends to the [Bealach](/source/Mountain_pass) Ghlas-Leathaid (575 metres) and then connects to the [Corbett](/source/List_of_Corbetts) of Cam Chreag. Another ridge goes easterly, descending into Glen Lochay.

The mountain has a subsidiary summit which is listed in the Munro Tables as a “Top”, The **South Top** reaches a height of 998 metres and lies 600 metres south of the highest point.[3] The two summits are connected by a ridge and this area can be confusing in poor visibility with the logical temptation to go north to the main summit possibly resulting in encountering steep crags. The proper route from the south top is to go initially west for a short distance across a hollow and onto the ridge which leads north to the main summit.[4] The summit ridge has two [corries](/source/Cirque) on either side, to the west is the Coire nan Each (Corrie of the Horse) and to the east is Coire Challuim (Callum's Corrie). Drainage from the mountain reaches both coasts of Scotland at the [Firth of Tay](/source/Firth_of_Tay) on the east coast and the [Firth of Clyde](/source/Firth_of_Clyde) on the west coast.

## Ascents and summit

The most popular route of ascent starts at Kirkton Farm in Strath Fillan (grid reference ), this gives the opportunity to visit the ruins of St. Fillans Priory at the beginning or end of the walk. The route continues north east up grassy slopes to reach the summit ridge.[5] A more interesting ascent starts at the road end in Glen Lochay, this gives the chance to view the more noteworthy northern side of the mountain but involves a nine-kilometre walk up the glen to the foot of the eastern ridge.[6] [Hamish Brown](/source/Hamish_Brown) recommends a northern approach starting at Auch (grid reference ) “if you want to be different” but this requires good navigation and some mild scrambling up the north west ridge.[7]

The actual summit of the mountain is named as Stob Glas (greenish-grey peak) on maps and has a large [cairn](/source/Cairn) which overlooks the sheer northern face. The view from the top gives fine views of the many peaks around the Tyndrum and [Crianlarich](/source/Crianlarich) area.

## References

- *The Munros*, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
- *The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland*, Diadem, 1993, [Irvine Butterfield](/source/Irvine_Butterfield), ISBN 0-906371-30-9
- *The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains*, [Cameron McNeish](/source/Cameron_McNeish), ISBN 1-84204-082-0
- *The Magic Of The Munros*, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
- *Hamish’s Mountain Walk*, Baton Wicks, 1996, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5

**Footnotes**

1. [A Short History of Breadalbane.](http://www.wild-cat.demon.co.uk/history.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070704050513/http://www.wild-cat.demon.co.uk/history.htm) July 4, 2007 at the Wayback Machine "St Fillan brought Christianity from the monastery of St Columba on Iona into Breadalbane" .

1. "The Magic of the Munros" Page 35 (Gives rest of details on name origins and translation).

1. [Database of British and Irish Hills.](http://www.hills-database.co.uk/downloads.html)

1. [www.incallander.co.uk.](http://www.incallander.co.uk/walks/benchallum.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070926223539/http://www.incallander.co.uk/walks/benchallum.htm) September 26, 2007 at the Wayback Machine Gives details of dangers of summit ridge.

1. "The Munros" Page 37 (Gives details of ascent from Strath Fillan).

1. "The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland" Pages 65 (Details ascent from head of Glen Lochay).

1. "Hamish's Mountain Walk" Page 73 (Suggests ascent from Auch).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beinn Challuim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beinn_Challuim) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beinn_Challuim?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.