Ben, Beinn, Bheinn

Type

Mountain

Area of origin

Scotland

Area of use

Scotland

Related terms

Stob, Mynydd, Ard (Àrd)

Mountain, pinnacle or head.

Mountain (Scottish). At 1334m (4409ft) above sea level, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland (and the UK). Ben Venue (from the Gaelic for “minature mountain”) is only 729m (2391ft) and doesn’t even get near being classified as a “Munro” (being a list of mountains greater than 3000ft). [Underquark]

Etymology

Ben is an anglicized version of the Scots Gaelic beinn, which is in turn derived from the Old Irish benn ‘peak’, ‘pinnacle’

Example locations

  • Ben Nevis
    Fort William, Scottish Highlands
  • Ben Lomond
    Stirling, Scotland

Enlarge map

Entry contributors:

Underquark, Shaun Waycott