Ben Rinnes is the highest peak in the Speyside region and if you are travelling the area and enjoy a good view, we highly recommend you climb up it.
There are multiple distilleries in this part of Scotland and Ben Rinnes towers over the top of them with the melt from the snow providing them with water.
On a clear day, the views are fantastic from the top of Ben Rinnes stretching across to the Cairngorms in the south and the Moray Firth and North Sea are visable to the north and north west.
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Complete Guide to Hiking Ben Rinnes - A Beginner Hike in Aberdeenshire
Hiking in Scotland is a fantastic way to get in amongst nature and see some amazing views. In this guide, we will discuss the best time to go travel to this part of Scotland as well as the following
- What is Ben Rinnes?
- How to get to Ben Rinnes?
- Where to start the hike up Ben Rinnes?
- Why Should I hike Ben Rinnes?
- Preparing for your trip to the NE250
What is Ben Rinnes?
Ben Rinnes is the tallest peak in the Speyside region near Aberdeenshire. Sitting at 840 metres, this hill is officially a corbett as it sits 300 metres shorter than a munro. This corbett may not be a munro however it is not for the faint hearted as it is hard under foot with some steep elevation.
There is a clear path to the top, making it easy to follow, however it is always good practice to carry a map to avoid getting lost. We would recommend wearing a good pair of hiking boots though as the path is laid with loose stones and there are some parts that are require climbing up rocks.
How to get to Ben Rinnes?
Ben Rinnes is located 8km south west of Dufftown in Banffshire. To get to the the start of the hike, you will drive down a small unnamed road that branches off from the B9009 near Glenrinnes.
The road is very narrow with a few passing places. You will see the car park first on your left and then see a small gate. Please remember to close this when you pass through.
If you are looking for a good bag for your time hiking Ben Rinnes, we can highly recommend the Wandrd Bag PRVKE 41L if you are carrying camera equipment around. If you are looking for a smaller backpack, The Nest by Tropicfeel is one of the most comfortable bags I have ever owned.
Where to Start the Hike up Ben Rinnes?
There are many tracks to walk up Ben Rinnes, however the most popular is on the east side of the mountain. This is an out and back route, however there are plenty of options to make this a longer hike if you want.
There is a small car park so we recommend you get there early if you want to get a space. The coordinates of the car park are N57 24′ 29.52′ W3 11′ 31.45.
DON’T FORGET
Your trip to Scotland will be a lot more comfortable with a midge net and midge spray. These little biting bugs can be enough to ruin a trip if you don’t have the equipment to protect yourself from them. A repelling candle can also be helpful if you are sitting oustide.
Why Should I Hike Ben Rinnes?
Being the tallest mountain in the Moray region, the hike up Ben Rinnes will allow you to see some of the most beautiful views in the area. This is a 7.5km round trip hike that takes around 2-3 hours depending on your fitness levels.
Prepare for a number of summits that will constantly make you feel like you have reached the top.
Round Hill is the first summit at 410m, the second is Roys Hill at 534m before reaching the summit of Ben Rinnes at 840m.
There is a brass plaque at the summit that will show you where all the sights are below.
Before You Leave on the North East 250
Before you head off on your trip around the NE250, there are certain things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth trip.
These include how to get around the route, including being aware of single track roads, etc., what to pack for Scotland, where to stay along the route and what travel insurance to book.
How Do I Get Around the NE250?
Given the reasonably remote location of the NE250 and the majority of the sights along the route, the best way to get around this road trip is by driving. There are of course other methods that are still popular, such as cycling and hiking, however, if you have a short amount of time on the route, neither of these are very suitable.
As for public transport, this isn’t completely impossible, it is just a lot more difficult.
If you are looking to rent a cosy, reliable and luxurious campervan for your trip around the NE250, we highly recommend hiring through Spaceships Rentals.
Browse the full range of vehicles on offer at Spaceships over here.
What Should I Pack for the NE250?
When it comes to packing for a trip along the NE250 there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your 7-day NE250 road trip you will probably experience at least a drizzle of rain. Due to this, the number one item on any Scotland packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
As for the rest of the year, the temperature in Scotland and the central heartlands is reasonably mild for most of the year. During the winter months, you will most likely experience snow, however, temperatures usually sit around freezing, so it is not too cold. For your reference, the average temperatures in Scotland are listed below during each season.
Spring (March, April, May) – 5-10 degrees C
Summer (June, July, August) – 15 degrees C
Autumn (September, October, November) – 5-10 degrees C
Winter (December, January, February) – 0-5 degrees C
As you can see, the weather never really gets above the teens, with anything over 25 degrees C considered a heatwave. The best way to pack for your trip to the highlands is with layers that can be added and removed as you need them. You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the colder months and will most likely need sunscreen to protect you on the long days in the open.
It is also important to stay hydrated, especially when you are out exploring in the marvellous landscape of Scotland. We use Water to Go water bottles to fill up with water from running streams when we are hiking.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around Scotland, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Shure VP83 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 9 Black and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socket
Where Should I Stay in Aberdeen?
Luxury – Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen is a luxury hotel in the city of Aberdeen. It is within 20 minutes walk of the beach front and has free wifi, a gym and laundry facilities on site. The best things about this hotel might just be that it was rated highly for the comfort of the beds!
Book your stay at Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen here.
Mid-range – The Jurys Inn Aberdeen is located a stones throw away from the city centre shops, bars and restaurants. All rooms have air conditioning, a TV, hairdryer and most importantly, a comfortable bed.
Book your stay at the Jurys Inn Aberdeen here.
Budget – The Station Hotel sits opposite the train station in Aberdeen and is a fantastic budget option for your trip to the city. Each room is equipped with a TV and tea/coffee making facilities as well as having it’s own private bathroom.
What is the Best Travel Insurance?
We know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
Are you planning to visit more of Scotland on your trip? Why not check out our books to help you plan your trip?
So there you have it, a guide to hiking Ben Rinnes. If you have visited the NE250 recently, let us know what you thought of the it. Did you hike Ben Rinnes or visit any of the local distilleries? Let us know in the comments below.
As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own adventure. If you are planning the trip for yourself, make sure you have a look at the rest of our Scotland content for more inspiration to our beautiful home country.
When you set off on your own adventure, be sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram and we will share them with the rest of our community. In the meantime, why not follow us over there to see what we are currently up to and keep up with us on our Instagram Stories.
Now Read:
- Best Things to do on the North East 250 Road Trip
- Must Visit Castles in Aberdeenshire – Castles on the NE250 Road Trip
- Unmissable Beaches on the North East 250 – Best Beaches in Aberdeenshire
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