Scotland
Meall a' Chaorainn
910M
2984FT
About Meall a' Chaorainn
Situated on the eastern edge of the Grey Corries, this stony high point offers a rugged, quartzite-strewn landscape typical of the Lochaber wilderness. While often bypassed for higher neighbours, the summit provides an exceptional perspective of the massive north face of Stob Choire Claurigh and the historic Lairig Leacach pass.
Key Statistics
Rank
76th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Lochaber
Prominence
?
34.9m
Nearest Town
Achriabhach
Geology
You are walking on light-colored granite and ancient mudstones rich in lime. These rocks were hardened by intense heat and pressure deep beneath the earth.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN114657
Latitude
56.7447°N
Longitude
5.0857°W
Did You Know?
- •The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Meall a' Chaorainn, which translates to 'hill of the rowan'. It is an optimistic title for a summit that sits well above the tree line, where the terrain is dominated by shattered quartzite and alpine mosses rather than berries.
- •The hill overlooks the Lairig Leacach, an ancient pass and former droving route that translates from Gaelic as the 'Pass of the Flagstones'. This glen has long been a vital artery through the Lochaber mountains, once connecting the settlements around Spean Bridge with the remote lands of Loch Treig.
- •The summit provides one of the best angles to appreciate the scale of Stob Choire Claurigh’s eastern corries, and looking south, the view is framed by the distinctive, pyramidal peak of Stob Coire na Ceannain.
- •Standing at 909.6 metres, it is an exceptionally high Tump that is frequently treated by walkers as little more than a convenient place to adjust boot laces before tackling the higher, more famous ridges to the west.