Meall Ghaordaidh with the Lawers Range behind

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Meall Ghaordaidh and Beinn nan Oighreag

Hillwalking routes up Meall Ghaordaidh and Beinn nan Oighreag from Glen Lochay

Between Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay, Meall Ghaordaidh rests to the west of the famed Tarmachan Ridge. Although Meall Ghaordaidh is fairly high, from Glen Lochay it appears as a big characterless lump, but the side facing Glen Lyon is completely different with crags and rocky outcrops

Main route summary

Map base ©OpenStreetMap

Most people climb Meall Ghaordaidh from Glen Lochay, a gradual but gentle climb with some boulders near the summit.

Nearby Beinn nan Oighreag is a Corbett, just below Munro height and is linked to Meall Ghaordaidh via a col at 630m. It therefore it make sense to reach both summits on the same outing if time allows - see 'Alternative Routes' for details.

Munros	Meall Ghaordaidh (Meall Ghaordie) (1039m, Munro 93)

Corbetts	Beinn nan Oighreag* (909m) * see alternative routes below

Ascent	900m (2950ft)
Distance	9km (5m)
Time	running : 1:20hr walking : 3:30hr* *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
Start/finish	Nr Duncroisk, Glen Lochay (grid ref : NN526363)

Profile

View profile of the main route

Maps

OS
Landranger 51

OS
Explorer OL48

Harvey
Mountain Map

Harvey
Superwalker Map

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Downloads

GPX file of this route

Information on GPX files is on this page.

Terrain

easy

difficult

Navigation

easy

testing

Effort

stroll

long day

Scenery

stunning

Meanings

Meall Ghaordaidh : 'hill of the shoulder'
Beinn nan Oighreag : 'cloudberry hill'

Route detail & map »

Getting to Glen Lochay »

From Killin, head out of the village towards Loch Tay, and just before the Bridge of Lochay Hotel, turn left and drive along the road for 5km to houses and farm buildings at Duncroisk.
Park on the corner just beyond the bridge over the Allt Dhuin Croisg.

Meall Ghaordaidh »

By the bridge, go through a gate (with sign marking the route to Meall Ghaordaidh) and follow the track to another gate.
The track continues, becomes more faint and approaches a wall with a gate and stile .
The track can be followed further uphill and at a corner just above the 300m contour, a small cairn marks a point to leave it and head more directly uphill on a faint path. One more fence-line to cross at a knackered gate, once through you are onto open hillside with slightly wet grassy ground underfoot.
At around 700m the ground flattens and keeping dry feet becomes a bit challenging. The summit crest of Meall Ghaordaidh also commes into view ahead.
Just follow the path to around c800m, from where the ground steepens and the path starts to twist and turn in order to keep to the easiest line uphill.
The ground becomes more rocky underfoot and Meall Ghaordaidh's summit cairn is reached with the trig-point encircled by rocks to shelter out of the wind.

Return to Glen Lochay »

If just aiming up Meall Ghaordaidh, then best to return by the same route.

Beinn nan Oighreag »

Instead of returning directly from Meall Ghaordaidh back to the roadside, a detour to Beinn nan Oighreag is worth the effort. Beinn nan Oighreag is a fine Corbett peak to the north-east of Meall Ghaordaidh, linked by a col at 630m. Doing this takes the total ascent to 1200m over a distance of 13km, taking around 5 hours to hike.
From Meall Ghaordaidh's summit, on pathless ground, follow the crest of the mountain east-north-east for 600m , then turn south-east for 400m to drop to the undulating ground around Cam Creag .
Continue north-east for 1km , then drop on steep ground to the bealach above the Allt na h-Lolaire .
Aim up steep ground north-east directly for Beinn nan Oighreag.
There is no cairn on Beinn nan Oighreag's top , but a large boulder provides shelter out of the wind.
To return, head along the southern arm of Beinn nan Oighreag and drop to the sheilings. Pick up the path and return to Duncroisk.

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	Above Loch an Daimh Two very different Munros and 3 Corbetts. Fine views, with Meall Buidhe being an excellent vantage point to look over Rannoch Moor.

	Meall nan Tarmachan The most easterly peak on the splendid Tarmachan Ridge above Loch Tay

	Glen Lochay circuit A fine circuit taking in 5 Munros and 3 Corbetts. This route can be a serious undertaking, so perhaps split it into smaller chunks with the alternatives described.

	The Lochearnhead Corbetts Many different possiblilties for accessing these hills, but from Edinchip they can be combined into a fine circuit

	The Ben Lawers group A long route taking in 7 Munros. Popular hills with well managed path network on Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas.

Webcams	Ben More webcam from the Ochil's Mountaineering Hut.

Forecasts	Meall Ghaordaidh on Mountain-Forecast Meall Ghaordaidh on Met Office Meall Ghaordaidh on YR MWIS - Southeastern Highlands Scottish Avalance Information Service - Glencoe Scottish Midge Forecast XCWeather - UK Winds