Scotland
Craig Mellon
866M
2842FT
About Craig Mellon
Rising steeply above the pine forests of Glen Doll, this rugged bulk offers a direct, craggy alternative to the more popular glen tracks. While often overlooked, its summit provides a superior perspective into the magnificent glacial bowl of Corrie Fee and across the sprawling, high plateau of the eastern Mounth.
Key Statistics
Rank
42nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
128.7m
Nearest Town
Acharn
Geology
You are walking over layers of hardened mud and sand, interspersed with dark crystalline rocks formed from old volcanic activity.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NO262773
Latitude
56.8812°N
Longitude
3.2126°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Creag Meallan, meaning 'Crag of the Small Rounded Hill', which likely refers to its appearance as a prominent shoulder on the edge of the much higher Mounth plateau.
- •The hill serves as the dramatic northern gatekeeper to the Caenlochan National Nature Reserve, a site of international importance for its rare arctic-alpine plants and glacial geology.
- •The most direct ascent follows the steep southern ridge from the Glen Doll car park, providing a far more interesting and airy climb than the main forest tracks below.
- •From the summit cairn, the view is dominated by the massive cliffs of the Winter Corrie on Driesh to the east, while the perfectly formed glacial cirque of Corrie Fee lies immediately to the west.
- •Calling it a 'Small Hill' in Gaelic is a classic example of Highland modesty for a peak that rises nearly 2,000 feet from the glen floor and guards such an imposing set of crags.