Meall Dubh-chlais

Tucked away north of Blair Atholl, this rounded Grampian summit provides a quiet escape into the Atholl Forest. The terrain is largely heather and peat, typical of these rolling highlands. From the top, you’re rewarded with clear views of the sprawling Beinn Dearg massif and the prominent ridge of Beinn a' Ghlò.

• •The name Meall Dubh-chlais translates from Gaelic as the 'hill of the dark hollow' or 'dark furrow', likely referring to the shadowed drainage lines that scar its southern and eastern flanks.
• •While often bypassed for the nearby higher peaks, it is most logically approached from the Old Bridge of Tilt, using the estate tracks that service the remote reaches of the Atholl Forest.
• •From the summit, the view to the east is dominated by the three distinct tops of Beinn a' Ghlò, while to the northwest, the desolate plateau of the Gaick Forest stretches toward the horizon.
• •It is a hill for those who prefer the company of red deer and golden plovers over fellow walkers; on a midweek afternoon, your only competition for the summit cairn is likely to be a passing cloud.