Meall Odhar Loch Monaidh

Rising as a high, rounded shoulder of the Beinn Dearg massif, this remote Tump overlooks the desolate upper reaches of the Gaick Forest. Its heather-clad slopes provide a sense of profound isolation, offering a quieter alternative to busier neighbouring peaks while commanding wide views across the wild, wind-scoured Atholl wilderness.

• •The name is Gaelic, with Meall Odhar translating as 'dun-coloured rounded hill' and Loch Monaidh referring to the 'loch of the hill,' likely the small bodies of water trapped on the high, peat-scarred plateau near the summit.
• •While often bypassed during the long approach to the higher Beinn Dearg massif, this summit offers a more intimate look at the remote Gaick Forest and the steep-sided trench of the Gaick Pass to the east.
• •From the summit, the eye is drawn to the dramatic profile of An Dun across the Gaick Pass and the sprawling ridges that lead towards the Minigaig, an ancient drovers' route between Atholl and Speyside.
• •True to its name, the hill is an exercise in every conceivable shade of brown, from the scorched heather of summer to the deep, sodden peat hags that wait to test the integrity of your gaiters.