Meall a' Chaorainn

Rising to 537 metres in the Scottish Highlands north of the Great Glen, this grassy summit offers a modest climb through typical Highland terrain. Classified as both a Dodd and a Tump, it sits in relatively remote country where forestry and open hillside meet, providing a quieter alternative to the busier peaks further south.

• •The name Meall a' Chaorainn derives from Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'hill of the rowan tree' or 'hill of the rowans', reflecting the presence of these distinctive small trees that once grew more abundantly on Highland slopes before intensive grazing reduced their numbers.
• •As a Dodd, this summit meets the criteria of a hill between 500 and 599 metres with at least 30 metres of prominence, placing it among Scotland's mid-height tops that often see fewer visitors than their Munro neighbours.
• •The grid reference NH473796 places the summit in the northern Highlands east of Glen Affric, an area where ancient Caledonian pine forest remnants still cling to some valley floors while the higher slopes remain open and exposed.