Beinn Bhan

The approach to the Beinn Bhan launch could not be much simpler. From the parking area simply cross the road and head straight up the hillside!

The easiest line will generally involve sticking close to the south facing shoulder of the hill and picking a route up over steep heathery ground and terraces strewn with weathered slabs of torridonian sandstone. Higher up the hillside there are numerous patches of shorter grass amongst the heather and rocks and there are plenty of launch possibilities around the 450m contour.

All of the Applecross peaks are impressive, but when viewed from the east the sweeping expanse of Beinn Bhan (896m), characterised by its six great corries and giant rocky buttresses, is particularly spectacular. This hill offers great flying potential both for soaring and thermic days. The fact that the Beinn Bhan launch is also very close to various other Applecross flying sites is an additional attraction, especially on days where the wind is forecast to be variable in direction and it’s helpful to have a number of options to fall back on.

This is a large site that is best flown in a light easterly. It is also possible to fly the south facing shoulder of Beinn Bhan in south easterly conditions, though this is more limiting. On a good day it should not be necessary to walk much higher than halfway up the east facing slopes of the hill (to around the 450m contour) to find it possible to soar the extensive east facing slopes.

Given sufficient altitude, a trip in a northerly direction along the line of giant corries is an experience not to be missed. Alternatively, a westerly flight takes in the equally dramatic Sgurr a Chaorachain and Bealach na Ba. Either way, xc distance will soon be limited by the sea and, unless an ‘out and return’ trip is successful, both options can result in a bit of a hike back to civilisation.

Takeoff altitude: 447m