Scotland
Meall Odhar Ailleag
782M
2565FT
About Meall Odhar Ailleag
Sitting south of the mighty Beinn a' Ghlò massif, this high, rounded moorland summit offers a quiet alternative to the busy Munros of Atholl. Rising from the vast plateau east of Glen Tilt, it features typical Grampian terrain of deep heather and peat, providing a fine vantage point over the Tilt valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
111th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Grampians
Prominence
?
42.4m
Nearest Town
Ruichlachrie
Geology
The ground here belongs to the Gaick Psammite Formation. This durable, sandy rock was created when ancient sediments were squeezed and hardened deep within the earth.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NN809795
Latitude
56.8915°N
Longitude
3.9566°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Meall Odhar Ailleag', which translates as the 'Dun Hill of the Jewel' or 'Beauty'; while 'odhar' describes the drab, brownish-grey hue of the winter heather, the specific meaning of 'ailleag' suggests a feature once highly regarded by local shepherds.
- •The summit provides a front-row seat to the eastern corries of the Beinn a' Ghlò range, offering an angle on the Munro Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain that most walkers miss by staying on the main ridge path.
- •Access usually involves a long approach from Blair Atholl via the tracks of the Atholl Estate, making it a remote outing despite its proximity to the A9 corridor.
- •As a Tump (a hill with a thirty-metre drop on all sides), it occupies the middle ground of Scottish hills—not high enough for the Munro baggers, yet far too high to be considered a casual afternoon stroll.