Meall Bhalach East Top

Rising above the remote moorlands of the eastern Grampians, this rounded Tump offers a quiet alternative to the busy Glen Shee summits. Its broad, heathery slopes provide a sense of true isolation, with expansive views looking across the deep trough of Glen Shee toward the rugged silhouette of the Glas Maol massif.

• •The name derives from the Gaelic Meall a' Bhalaich, typically translated as 'Hill of the Boy', a common naming convention in the Highlands often linked to local folklore or land ownership markers.
• •As an East Top, it serves as a subsidiary shoulder to the main Meall Bhalach summit; reaching it requires a trackless traverse through deep heather that feels significantly more wild than the developed ski terrain nearby.
• •The summit offers a unique perspective on the 'Munro-bagger's' circuit around the Cairnwell Pass, specifically looking directly at the steep, scarred eastern flanks of The Cairnwell and Càrn Aosda.
• •Standing at 703.9 metres, it is one of the many 2,000ft tops in the Mounth area that see very few visitors, as it lacks the 'Munro' or 'Corbett' status required to attract the crowds.
• •It is the ideal destination for the hillwalker who finds the relative 'bustle' of the nearby A93 far too overstimulating and prefers the silent company of peat hags and the occasional startled grouse.