Fells/Meall nan Ceapraichean
Scotland
Meall nan Ceapraichean
977M
3205FT
Rank
5th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Nearest Town
Auchlunachan
About Meall nan Ceapraichean
Situated in the rugged Dearg forest, this stony Munro is often climbed alongside its celebrated neighbour, Beinn Dearg. It offers a high-plateau feel with a summit of shattered rock and quartzite. From the top, there is a clear, plunging view down to Loch Glascarnoch and the distant, saw-toothed skyline of An Teallach.
Key Statistics
Rank
5th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Nearest Town
Auchlunachan
Prominence
?
126.6m
Geology
You are walking on the Glascarnoch Psammite Formation, a durable, hardened sandstone that creates the rugged, gritty terrain under your boots.
Nearby Fells
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Meall nan Ceapraichean, which translates as the 'Hill of the Stumps' or 'Hill of the Lumps,' likely describing the uneven, boulder-strewn nature of its summit plateau.
- •The mountain is almost always tackled as part of the 'Inverlael Four,' a classic high-level circuit from the shores of Loch Broom that also includes Eididh nan Gadhlach, Cona’ Mheall, and the massive bulk of Beinn Dearg.
- •It is linked to Beinn Dearg by the Bealach nan Nimhe. While 'nimhe' usually translates as poison, in this local context it refers to the 'Pass of the Pains,' a name earned from the biting winds and arduous, rocky terrain found at this high col.
- •The summit provides a particularly sharp vantage point for viewing the dramatic, dark eastern cliffs of Beinn Dearg and the remote, loch-filled expanse of the Dirrie More to the south.
- •Given its proximity to its more famous neighbour, the hill is frequently regarded as a mandatory detour for peak-baggers rather than a primary destination, making it one of the most frequently ascended 'afterthoughts' in the North West Highlands.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NH257825
Latitude
57.7985°N
Longitude
4.9340°W