Glen Kinglas

Glen Kinglas is a glen located on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. The glen is one of the main glens in the Arrochar Alps, the A83 road from Arrochar and Loch Lomond passes through the glen. At the north end of the glen, a pass leads to Glen Croe, passing Loch Restil. At the south of the glen the A815 road leaves the A83 and leads through the Cowal peninsula to Dunoon on the Firth of Clyde coast. The A83 continues on past Cairndow and Loch Fyne Oysters to Inveraray and Inveraray Castle on Loch Fyne.

The glen has the Kinglas Water running through it which runs under the Butter Bridge, one of the sources is Loch Restil, located in the pass between Glen Kinglas and Glen Croe.

The Butter Bridge carpark in the glen, gives easy access to the hills and mountains in the area for hillwalkers and climbers. The glen gives access to Beinn an Lochain the highest peak on the Cowal peninsula at 901.7 m.

The Mountain Bothies Association opened a Bothy within the glen in May 2022, called Abyssinia. Located at grid ref: NN 256 117, on Ordnance Survey map LR56.

The glen is within the Argyll Forest Park and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Mountains
The following mountains border Glen Kinglas (from south to north).

West side:


 * Binnein an Fhidhleir, Corbett at 817 m
 * Creag Bhrosgan, 711 m
 * Stob Coire Creagach, 817 m

East side:


 * Stob an Eas, 732 m
 * Beinn an t-Seilich, 719 m
 * Beinn an Lochain, Corbett at 901.7 m
 * Beinn Luibhean, Corbett at 857 m
 * Beinn Ime, Munro at 1011 m (Butter Mountain)
 * Beinn Chorranach, 888 m
 * Ben Vane - Beinn Dubh, 774 m

Butter Bridge
The bridge over Kinglas Water, Butter Bridge, named after Beinn Ìme (Butter Mountain). Built in 1749, as part of the Military Road from Dumbarton to Inveraray. Overseen by Major William Caulfeild of the British Army.

Landslides
The glen was formed by glacial erosion and has repercussions today, as many areas are still unstable.

The A83 is prone to landslides, including the section within Glen Kinglas. The A83 is a main road to the west coast of Scotland. On 8 October 2023, ten people were airlifted off the road by helicopter, as they were trapped by seven separate landslides along a short section of the road.

Aeroplane crash
A RAF Panavia Tornado F3 crashed in the glen, on 2 July 2009, at 1145. Both occupants were killed.

Glen Kinglas hydro
A hydro electric generating station makes use of the Kinglas Water in the south of the glen. It began electricity generation in January 2004. The system installed has a maximum production capacity of 960 kilowatt or 0.96 Megawatt.