![Meall nan Tarmachan South Top [Meall nan Tarmachan SE Top]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Meall_nan_Tarmachan_-_panorama_with_a_fence%2C_Scotland.jpg)
Scotland
Meall nan Tarmachan South Top [Meall nan Tarmachan SE Top]
922M
3024FT
About Meall nan Tarmachan South Top [Meall nan Tarmachan SE Top]
Perched on the southeast shoulder of the main Munro, this grassy dome offers a gentler introduction to the Tarmachan range. Often visited on the initial ascent from the Lochan na Lairige car park, it provides a superb vantage point over the reservoir towards the massive western flanks of Ben Lawers.
Key Statistics
Rank
48th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
32.4m
Nearest Town
Morenish
Geology
You are walking on lime-rich, sparkling rocks known as Ben Lawers Schist. Once ancient mud, these were transformed by heat and pressure into the layered stone beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN589385
Latitude
56.5174°N
Longitude
4.2944°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is Gaelic, with Meall nan Tarmachan meaning 'Hill of the Ptarmigan'. This specific top is distinguished as the South or Southeast Top to mark its position on the ridge leading to the main 1,044-metre summit.
- •In Sir Hugh Munro's inaugural 1891 list, this peak was actually classified as a Munro in its own right. It was later demoted to a Munro Top in 1921 when the criteria for topographical independence were more strictly applied.
- •Starting from the high pass of the Lochan na Lairige, the ascent begins at over 450 metres above sea level, making this one of the most accessible 3,000ft peaks in the southern Highlands.
- •The summit offers a specific, direct line of sight down the full length of Loch Tay, with the village of Killin visible at the southwestern head of the water.
- •It serves as a helpful psychological milestone; reaching this cairn means the majority of the day's vertical ascent is behind you, leaving a relatively easy stroll to the main peak.