About Meall Caca
Rising above the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, this quiet Tump offers a rugged, pathless alternative to the busier Great Glen trails. Its broad, heathery slopes provide a sense of genuine isolation, rewarding the ascent with a clear perspective over the Monadhliath range and the deep, dark trench of the Loch below.
Key Statistics
Rank
129th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Nearest Town
Fort Augustus
Prominence
?
57m
Geology
You are treading on ancient, compressed layers of sandstone and mica-rich rock. Look for shiny mineral flakes and small pebbles embedded within these rugged slopes.
Classifications
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Meall Caca, which translates as 'Hill of Dung' or 'Mucky Hill'—a blunt assessment of the notoriously boggy peat hags that guard the summit plateau.
- •To the south lies the historic Corrieyairack Pass, General Wade’s 18th-century military road that climbs to over 750 metres to connect Fort Augustus with the Spey Valley.
- •The summit offers a specific view of the vast Stronelairg Wind Farm to the east, providing a stark modern contrast to the ancient, rolling wilderness of the surrounding Monadhliath mountains.
- •Hikers often find that the hill lives up to its name; it is an outing best saved for a hard frost when the legendary Scottish black glaur is frozen solid.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH485025
Latitude
57.0885°N
Longitude
4.5017°W