Mam na Gualainn

About Mam na Gualainn

Rising steeply above the northern shores of Loch Leven, this prominent Corbett forms the high point of the ridge separating the Mamores from the sea. Grassy slopes offer a straightforward ascent from the old military road, rewarding walkers with an exceptional perspective of the Glencoe skyline and the southern face of Ben Nevis.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Mam na Gualainn translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Breast of the Shoulder.' In hill-naming, a 'Màm' typically refers to a large, rounded mountain or a pass, while 'gualann' signifies the shoulder of a hill, describing its position as a bulky flank at the end of a long ridge.
• •The most popular approach utilizes a section of the West Highland Way. Walkers follow the 18th-century military road through the Lairigmòr (the Great Pass), a historic route between Kinlochleven and Fort William that avoids the treacherous coastal cliffs of Loch Leven.
• •The summit provides an earned perspective of the Pap of Glencoe (Sgòrr na Cìche). While most people see the Pap from below in the glen, from here you are level with its summit, seeing its distinct conical profile set against the backdrop of the Aonach Eagach ridge.
• •It is frequently climbed in tandem with its 762-metre neighbour, Beinn na Caillich, to the west. Together they form a natural barrier that forced historic travellers to climb over 250 metres above sea level to cross between the local glens.
• •Despite being nearly 200 metres lower than the neighbouring Munros, its isolated position means it often escapes the 'Ben Nevis weather system,' allowing you to watch the big peaks disappear into the mist while you stay in the dry.