Meall na h'Eilrig

[johnstuartross]

A short hill walk above Drumnadrochit, with fabulous views. Ideal for a half day or a summer evening.

Start
About three-quarters of a mile east of Drumnadrochit bridge on A82, turn up steep side road signposted to Drumbuie. Continue to the top to reach Wester Achiltie farm. Park thoughtfully off the road.

Stage 1.
Walk east past a bungalow and turn left (north) before the next bungalow to take a farm track heading north-east. Keep on the track, passing through gates, to reach open moorland. The views backwards (south west), over Drumnadrochit to the pudding shaped Meall Fuar-mhonaidh are stupendous, as are those south west to the Glen Affric hills. The track passes close to pretty little Loch Glanaidh and it is worth detouring a few paces leftwards (northwest) through the heather to see it. In Spring this section is rich with birdlife, including curlew, lapwing, wheatears, stonechats, meadow pipits, buzzards, hen harriers, ravens and maybe blackcock. Roe and red deer may also be seen. Continue along the track, fainter now, until a gate is reached.

Farm track, looking back towards Wester Achiltie

Stage 2
Pass through the gate and continue along the track until the conifer plantation is less dense. There is no path so ascend the rough heathery hillside in a south easterly direction to the summit of Meall na h'Eilrig (redundant triangulation point and small cairn).

Meall na h'Eilrig

Summit cairn

The views are magnificent. To the north east, around the shoulder of Carn na Leitre (Abrichan), Inverness and the Moray Firth are clearly seen, with the Loch Ness-side village of Dores in the middle distance. Looking east across Loch Ness a chain of lochs in the direction Strathnairn can be seen, Loch Ashie and Loch Duntelchaig, with the Monadliaths fringing the far horizon. Turning to the south west, Ben Nevis and the mountains of the Killichonate Forest can be identified, peeping around the nearer shoulder of Meall Fuar-mhonaidh and the Balmacaan Forest. With Glenurquhart in the middle distance, the large cluster to the west are the Glen Affric hills, with the Glen Cannich and Glen Strathfarrar peaks to their right. Finally the Fannichs can be seen away to the north west, with the looming mass of Ben Wyvis dominating the northern skyline.

Ben Wyvis

Stage 3
If you prefer walking on a path, simply return from the summit of Carn na h'Eilrig the way you have come. Alternatively, drop down southwards, crossing a fence (it is unnecessary to climb the fence, if you choose the right place it can be stepped over) to a small and boggy bealach and so up to the smaller top of Carn Fhearchair. From the summit head south west to pass through a splendid though small clump of old Scots pines, where you can pick up a deer track beside the forest fence. Follow the fence until it reaches another which can be stepped over. Turn west (right) here across rough grazing, through a gate, and so to the farm track. Follow the farm track back to Wester Achiltie.

Glenurquhart and the Affric hills

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