Scotland
Meikle Bin
570M
1870FT
About Meikle Bin
Rising above the Kilsyth Hills, this conical Marilyn is the most distinctive peak in the Campsie Fells. The ascent typically follows steady forest tracks from Carron Valley Reservoir before a final, steeper pull to the summit. It offers a surprising sense of isolation despite its proximity to the Central Belt’s urban sprawl.
Key Statistics
Rank
25th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Scotland
Prominence
?
236m
Nearest Town
Queenzieburn
Geology
You are walking on layers of ancient volcanic ash and debris. These slopes are built from hardened lava flows left by long-extinct volcanoes.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NS667821
Latitude
56.0139°N
Longitude
4.1395°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a Scots-Gaelic hybrid: 'Meikle' is the Scots word for great or large, while 'Bin' is derived from the Gaelic beinn. It translates simply as the 'Big Hill', reflecting its status as a prominent local landmark.
- •On exceptionally clear days, the summit offers a rare cross-country panorama where you can see both the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth to the east and Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde to the west.
- •The northern and western slopes still hold fragments of a Royal Navy Fairey Firefly, which crashed just below the summit in low cloud in January 1950. While the larger sections were removed, small pieces of aircraft wreckage remain visible on the hillside.
- •The most popular approach begins at the Carron Valley Reservoir, following a network of forestry tracks that lead almost to the base of the summit cone, making it a reliable choice for a walk even when the surrounding moorland is boggy.
- •Despite its name promising a 'Big Hill', the peak spends a significant portion of the approach hidden behind commercial Sitka spruce, meaning you often spend more time looking at timber than the summit itself.