Scotland
Meall Donn
653M
2143FT
About Meall Donn
Rising from the peat moors of southeast Islay, this rounded summit stands just south of Beinn Bheigier. Navigating its rough heather and often boggy lower slopes requires persistence, but the reward is an exceptional perspective across the Sound of Jura toward the sharp, distinctive profiles of the Paps of Jura.
Key Statistics
Rank
21st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
30.4m
Nearest Town
Auchamore or South Thundergay
Geology
Meall Donn is shaped from solid granite. This durable rock forms both the inner and outer sections of the mountain beneath your feet.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NR906450
Latitude
55.6539°N
Longitude
5.3299°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Meall Donn, translating as 'brown hill' or 'brown rounded mass,' referring to the russet tones of the heather and grasses that cover its slopes.
- •It is most often climbed in conjunction with Beinn Bheigier, Islay's highest point; connecting the two peaks allows walkers to enjoy a high-level traverse and avoid the notorious peat bogs in the glens below.
- •From the summit, the view south extends across the North Channel to the distinctive cliffs of Rathlin Island and the distant Antrim coast of Northern Ireland.
- •The eastern slopes drop steeply toward the sea, providing a vantage point over McArthur’s Head lighthouse, which has guided shipping through the Sound of Jura since 1861.
- •While the name promises a brown hill, the local climate often ensures the terrain is more of a squelching, mossy green for much of the walking season.