Schiehallion

Summary

One of Scotland's best known hills, Schiehallion is one of the easiest Munros to climb on a fine summer's day. It takes the form of a broad ridge, with the famous conical appearance only apparent from across Loch Rannoch.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Excellent path most of the way, but final section to summit pathless as route runs across awkward boulders.

Deer Stalking information

Land east of summit: John Muir Trust: no stalking issues.

Getting there

Start

Braes of Foss car park (charge) - overspill carpark 0.5km east along Schiehallion road.

Public Transport

None to start of walk.

Start Grid Ref

NN753556

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 10km / 6.25 miles
Time: 4 - 6 hours
Ascent: 731m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Munro: Schiehallion

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

Park the Braes of Foss car park (charge). A memorial commemorates Schiehallion's part in a famous experiment. In 1774 the Astronomer Royal Maskelyne became the first to measure the mass of the earth, which he did by observing the deflection of a pendulum by the mass of Schiehallion. As part of the experiment the volume of Schiehallion had to be calculated, for which purpose contour lines were invented by Charles Hutton. The path to Schiehallion begins at the far end of the car park; at the junction in the woods, turn right to head through a gate, then follow a wall and cross a footbridge. At the next junction beyond, bear right on the main path.

Stage 2

The path runs through an area which has been planted with native oaks and will eventually regenerate as native woodland. Soon another gate is reached where this woodland is left behind. The path now passes some old tumbledown sheepfanks en route to the base of the east ridge.

Stage 3

The original path up Schiehallion ran from the car park directly up the flank of the mountain; it became a quagmire as well as a scar on the face of the hill, until this side of the hill was bought in 1999 by the John Muir Trust. The Trust is a conservation charity that protects wild places; they set about building the current path on a line that loops slightly further south, and the damage caused by the original route has been repaired. You can support the work of the trust by joining at http://www.johnmuirtrust.org/. The path has many stone steps and winds to and fro. As it climbs up onto and along the lower part of the ridge, excellent views open up, particularly looking across Loch Tummel towards Beinn a'Ghlò.

Stage 4

Once on the broad ridge, keep to the path which leads along the right edge of the ridge, passing a large cairn. From here the going becomes tougher, as quartzite boulders litter the ridge and make for awkward going. There are numerous cairns but the true summit of Schiehallion is further along the ridge than might be thought at first. Soon a higher section of ridge comes into view.

Stage 5

Climb up onto this. Take care across the awkward boulders until the slightly pointed true summit, which is entirely covered with boulders and rock, is reached; there is barely a cairn but it cannot be mistaken in clear weather.

Stage 6

The views are extremely extensive - unsurprising given its central position and how often Schiehallion appears in the view from distant summits around Scotland. Most impressive is the view west across Rannoch Moor to the peaks of Glencoe. It is worth continuing over the rock slabs a few metres beyond the summit for the best views over Loch Rannoch.

Stage 7

The return to Braes of Foss is usually made the same way, taking full advantage of the path and preventing further erosion - do not short-cut down the old route.

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