Scotland
Meallan Liath Mor
684M
2244FT
About Meallan Liath Mor
Rising above the desolate moors of Sutherland, this substantial Tump offers a rugged, off-path experience characteristic of the North West Highlands. Its rocky, gneiss-strewn slopes provide a sense of true isolation, rewarded at the summit by an expansive vista across the remote waters of Loch Shin towards the jagged peaks of Arkle and Foinaven.
Key Statistics
Rank
81st Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
51m
Nearest Town
West Merkland
Geology
You are trekking across the Altnaharra Psammite Formation. This hard, gritty rock formed from ancient layers of compressed sand, creating the sturdy foundation beneath your boots.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC406329
Latitude
58.2559°N
Longitude
4.7177°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Meallan Liath Mor is a Gaelic contradiction, translating as 'Big Grey Little Hill'—'Meallan' is a diminutive term for a rounded hill, while 'Mor' indicates its status as the largest in its immediate group.
- •From the summit, you can look directly north to the distinctive, isolated pyramid of Ben Hope, the most northerly of the Munros, and west to the quartzite ridges of Foinaven.
- •The terrain is dominated by Lewisian Gneiss, some of the oldest rock in the world, creating a complex, hummocky landscape that holds water in countless small, unnamed lochans.
- •Success on this hill usually requires a long, pathless approach from the A838, involving a significant amount of 'tussock-hopping' through the boggy glens that surround it.