Meall Fuar-mhonaidh and Glas-bheinn Mhor circuit

End of public road by Grotaig

The A82 travels the length of Loch Ness, on which Drumnadrochit sits around 15 miles south of Inverness.

By the southern end of the town, the road crosses the River Coiltie, and on the south side of this a narrow road heads westwards. Following this road as it climbs in a series of switchbacks leads to a long level stretch with Meall Fuar-mhonadh in view ahead.

The road ends by the hamlet of Grotaig where there is a parking area with room for up to 8 vehicles.

On the boardwalk, Meall Fuar-mhonaidh comes into view

From the car park, the obvious forestry track is ignored (it is usually locked), and attention is turned to a small sign in the trees marked 'Hill Path'. This points the way southwest, along a road towards a pottery and café. Before reaching these, another sign, again marked 'Hill Footpath', indicates a gate on the right.

Through the gate, the trail threads between a burn and a fence, crossing boardwalks over damp ground and passing through more gates. The forestry track is reached , directly across which another gate leads onto a narrower path entering the woods once more.

The trail climbs steadily, crossing the forestry track again and continuing upwards. The terrain becomes increasingly rutted and worn, but the direction remains clear. Emerging from the trees, a stile crosses a tall deer fence and open hillside is reached. From here, the path winds steadily uphill towards Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, still around 2km distant.

Worn by many feet, the path is sometimes firm, often muddy, particularly in wetter weather. Glas-bheinn Mhor makes a brief appearance in the distance to the right before the gradient steepens slightly. A cairn is soon reached - not the summit, but a welcome marker and a fine place to look back along Loch Ness.

The path on Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

The path on Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

Glas-bheinn Mhor from the southern crest of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

The western flanks of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh fall away steeply to the shores of Loch nam Breac Dearga. To continue towards Glas-bheinn Mhor, either the north-eastern ridge may be re-traced, or, as taken here, the south-western arm may be followed. This gentler ridge is traced for about 1km before turning north , descending grassy slopes towards the lochan.

Undulating grass-covered ground is crossed to reach the outlet of Loch nam Breac Dearga , before heading northwest over more gentle terrain to the outlet of Loch Ruighe an t-Seilich - nestled below Glas-bheinn Mhor. Skirting around this lochan's western edge, a grassy rake then offers a natural line of ascent up the hill, climbing steadily through heather to gain Glas-bheinn Mhor's summit from the southeast.

On Glas-bheinn Mhor looking south to the Grey Corries and Nevis

On Glas-bheinn Mhor looking south to the Grey Corries and Nevis

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh from the northern end of Loch nan Breac Dearga

From Glas-bheinn Mhor's summit, the descent begins by briefly retracing steps, before descending another grassy rake towards the northern shore of Loch Ruighe an t-Seilich. As progress is made over more grassy undulating ground, a faint path begins to form. This path comes and goes, leading over some damp ground to drop to the northern edge of Loch nam Breac Dearga.

From the shore of the loch, a gentle rise skirts around the minor bump of Nighean a' Mhill , with the path now more defined as it then contours below the northern shoulder of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh.

Descending the path back to Grotaig

Descending the path back to Grotaig