Scotland
Meall Iain
502M
1647FT
About Meall Iain
Rising above the northern shores of Loch Frisa, this modest summit offers a classic taste of Mull’s rugged moorland. It is a pathless, often boggy ascent, but the reward is a clear vista across the Sound of Mull toward Ardnamurchan and the sharp profiles of Rum and Eigg on the horizon.
Key Statistics
Rank
137th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Mull
Prominence
?
119m
Nearest Town
Ariundle
Geology
Meall Iain is built from durable layers of hardened sandstone and mudstone. These compressed rocks form the solid foundation and striped patterns visible beneath your feet.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM810662
Latitude
56.7367°N
Longitude
5.5820°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic in origin, where 'Meall' refers to a rounded hill or lump and 'Iain' is the Gaelic form of John, likely memorialising a local figure now lost to history.
- •Located in the quieter northern reaches of the island, the hill sits between the village of Dervaig and the seven-mile stretch of Loch Frisa.
- •The summit serves as an excellent vantage point for spotting the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, the most westerly point of the British mainland.
- •As a 'Hump'—a hill with a prominence of at least 100 metres—it stands in relative isolation from the higher mountains of the Ben More range further south.
- •Like much of northern Mull’s interior, the 'path' to the top is largely a matter of opinion, usually held by the local sheep and rarely shared with hikers.