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Meall a'Choire Leith (926m, Munro 261)
Meall Corranaich (1069m, Munro 68)
Beinn Ghlas (1103m, Munro 47)
Ben Lawers (1214m, Munro 10)
An Stuc (1118m, Munro 34)
Meall Garbh (1118m, Munro 35)
Meall Greigh (1001m, Munro 136)

1750m (5,700ft)
19km (12m)
running : 3:15hr, walking : 6:30hr

North of Lochan na Lairige (NN 594 416)
Horn Carver on A827(NN 681 400)
OS landranger 51
main route summary 
A suprisingly easy route taking in 7 munros, mainly on good paths, can be run over in well under 4 hours. The Ben Lawers Visitor Centre, which opens from March to September, is an interesting and informative place to visit, though this seems to encourage an unexpectedly large amount of hillwalkers to plod over the area. Fortunately the NTS, which owns the south side of the range, is taking steps to curb the errosion by installing and maintaining new paths. In winter, it should be noted that the road north of the Visitor Centre is not gritted or cleared of snow.

main route outline
There are many possiblities for doing these munros, but I've found the following route suits me best, though two cars are helpful, one parked at either end. Take your pick at which end to start and direction to head, both have their plus and minus points. Aim off from Lochan na Lairige and you'll have less ascent, but you'll get wet feet starting off. Aim from from the Horn Carver to have dry feet and enjoy better views, but at the cost of more ascent and probably walking into westerly wind. The route takes in 7 munros, but with only 1750m of ascent over 19km, it's easy enough to run over these in under 4 hours. Apart from a bit of easy scrambling on the north-eastern side of An Stuc, there are no difficulties and most of the route is on paths over easy, grassy covered terrain. Ben Lawers summit can be a busy place !

If you can arrange to use two cars, park one at the north end of Lochan na Lairige and the other at the Ben Lawers Hotel, where parking is free, providing you stop and eat/drink there at the end of your hillrun.


Meall a'Choire Leith
This route starts 0.5 km north of the end of the Lochan na Lairige, by a cairn, where there is limited parking. If parking is full, then there is space by the loch, where a track heads from the roadside towards the loch. From the cairn, head northwest on a newly built path. At time of writing the path was still being constructed, but looks as if it will head up to around c600m, from where a wet, indistinct path is traced down to the small hydro dam. Cross the burn below the dam and pick up another wet path to reach the burn coming down from Coire Gorm. Cross this burn, then head north up steep grassy ground. The rate of ascent gradually easies and a small cairn on the summit is reached. Not a great summit, but a good view is given onto the route's remaining munros.

Meall Corranaich
Leave Meall a'Choire Leith and head south to pick up a path coming from the rim of Meall a'Choire's eastern coire, to follow to the bealach. The path continues up the grassy slopes of Meall Corranaich to meet the eastern source of the Allt Gleann Da-Eig, from where a fainter path is followed up to the crest of the north west arm. A path continues to the small pile of stones on the summit.

Beinn Ghlas
From Meall Corranaich's summit head east on a faint path following some fence-posts. The path becomes more obvious as it starts to zig-zag downhill. In winter this can be slightly tricky. The wet bealach below Beinn Glas is reached and a path is crossed. South-east uphill, initially on pathless ground, start climibng on fairly steep grassy slopes. A faint path on loose terrain evolves into something more obvious which is then followed to the Beinn Ghlas summit. Although a decent sized hill in its own right, Ben Ghlas is dwarfed by Beinn Lawers ahead.

Ben Lawers
Leave the small cairn on Beinn Ghlas and head north-east on a well-worn path heading gently downhill for 1km. Reach the bealach below Ben Lawers, where a well constructed path heads up east-north-east. The summit is attained with its trig point and cairn. At weekends this is a busy place, even in winter, rain or mist. Being the highest peak in the southern highlands, the views are excellent in all directions.

An Stuc
North of Ben Lawers, head downhill on a faint path on easy dry terrain. Drop nearly 200m, to a slight rise which can be by-passed on the left (west) following a faint path. Drop another 100m on a fairly obvious path to the bealach below An Stuc. Cross the bealach and head up north-east-north on a path to the grassy summit of An Stuc.

Meall Garbh
The only tricky part of the route is immediately ahead. Look for a path slightly to the right (east), do not be tempted by any more obvious worn paths directly downhill. There is a bit of easy scrambling to be had and the bealach is reached quite quickly. An obvious path climbs uphill on grass between slabs to the summit of Meall Garbh.

Meall Greigh
Like Meall a'Choire Leith, Meall Greigh sits some distance apart from the main group of munros. It is linked to Meall Garbh by line of fence-posts alongside which hugs a path. Follow this path, dropping some 250m to a wet bealach and continue, past the unusual erratic boulder, onto the summit and its small cairn.

Return
Head south-east-south, then south from Meall Greigh's cairn on a faint path over grass to Sron Mhor. Drop steeply due south to enter fairly wet ground at around c500m. Continue south and pick up a path. Past the old sheilings (hardly visibile), cross a fence to take you out of NTS ground. Continue down a path with lots of nettles in summer and autumn, to a farm and pick up the track back to the road at the Horn Carver. Enjoy some food and a pint back at the Ben Lawers Hotel !


Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here


lawers area weblinks
Get the local area weather forecast here
See todays conditions on the nearby Killin webcam
Bar food and accommodation at the Ben Lawers Hotel
The National Trust owns and manages this nature reserve
More accommodation is available at the Killin Youth Hostel or the Ben Lawers Bunkhouse
Need new or hire gear ? Try Killin Outdoor Supplies



alternatives
Instead of one longish walk, split the route into two, finishing at the starting points.

Ben Ghlas to Meall a'Choire Leith from the Visitor Centre
From the Ben Lawers Visitor Centre, follow a good path heading directly for Beinn Ghlas. The path takes a sharp turn below some hydro works, then heads up to a stile over a fence. Just beyond this, take the uphill turning at a junction and follow the path to Beinn Ghlas summit. Leave the small cairn on Beinn Ghlas and head north-east on the path to the bealach below Ben Lawers. A well built path heads up east-north-east up to the trig point and cairn on Ben Lawer's summit.

Return to the bealach, then take the constructed path heading off right downhill. Follow this path down to the bealach between Meall Corranaich and Beinn Ghlas. If you are only intending to bag Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, then continue on this path back to the Visitor Centre. To take in Meall Corranaich, cross the wet bealach and head north-west uphill on a worn path. Further up, some fence-posts are picked up to follow most of the way to the summit.

Head north on a faint path for just under 1km, then head north-east away from the crest on pathless ground for 250m, where the path re-appears and follows a burn for a bit down to the bealach below Meall a'Choire Leith. Head due north up over stunted heather to the small summit cairn.

On a south-west bearing, head directly downhill on steep grassy ground to reach a burn, from where a wet path is followed to a small dam on the Allt Gleann Da-Eig. A trudge through wet ground is required to reach the new path to meet up with the road at the north end of Lochan na Lairige.


Meall Garbh to Ben Lawers from the Horn Carver
500m east of the Ben Lawers Hotel is the Horn Carver, from where a track heads around the back uphill. Follow this track to the farm, where a sign-post points the way. A path is followed up to the Ben Lawers reserve, then continues heading north above the steep slopes down to Lawers Burn. As the path turns slightly west, leave it and head directly north over heather and occasional wet moss. Climb up steep ground to Sron Mhor and pick up a path to follow to the summit of Meall Garbh.

From the cairn, initially head north-west over a plateau, then turn west on a path hugging a fence. Reach the bealach and continue following the line of fences up to the summit of Meall Garbh. Beyond this peak, a short section on a path downhill will quickly take you to the base below An Stuc's scramble. The difficulties are avoided by keeping to the left (east) side. After reaching the small cairn, it's an easy jog downhill to the bealach, followed by a pleasant trip on a path up the northern shoulder of Ben Lawers to the cairn and trig point.

Leave the crowds behind and head east-south-east for 200m, then turn east downhill over some rocky bits. The terrain easies, and mainly grassy ground is descended east-north-east to reach the track. Pick up the path to descend to Lawers Burn and return to the Horn Carver.


lawers