Erebia aethiops is widespread in the Palaearctic ecozone, including most of Europe, the Alps and Apennines, Balkans, Asia Minor, the Urals, and the Caucasus. English colonies are found at Arnside Knott and Smardale Gill both in Cumbria. This species is found in most of northern Scotland, and in western areas in south Scotland. In Europe and Russia, these butterflies prefer the edge of pine forests and tall damp grassland in hills and mountains up to 2400 m.