Meall na Fearna by the Fin Glen
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 7:52 pmI went up Meall na Fearna via the Fin Glen in April 2014 and posted a report - but without any photographs so I thought it was about time to repeat it with a camera. As you drive along the South Loch Earn Road, past the (awful) caravan site, you pass two gates marked "private" and then a third from which a track leads up through two more gates into the Fin Glen. Just a few metres further is a good parking place on the right.
Looking up Loch Earn from the parking place to Meall an-t-Seallach and Creag Mac Ranaich
From doing the South Loch Earn ridge I had dscovered that this track goes far further than is shown on the map - in fact almost to the 550m Col at the West end of that ridge.
A closer view of Craig Mac Ranaich
The third gate leads on to the open hillside
A side track on the R leads up to heathery ridge of Druim Chonnaidh that I ascended before
The views widened as I climbed
The track keeps high on the West side of the glen just below the screes of the ridge
Where it divides the main track descends into a mass of peat hags below the col: I stayed on the smaller RH path
The path came to an end and I headed up to the obvious gap
Meall na Fearna with Ben Vorlich on the Right: I could see a traverse line around the head of the glen but the terrain - tall heather with boulders - was unappealing - particularly with pockets of deep snow
Looking East across the col to Meall Reamhar aand the South Loch Earn ridge
I decided at this point that I should leave Meall na Fearna for another day : I could have headed East along the South Loch Earn ridge, but it contains huge peat hags which need to be fully frozen, so I climbed up through the heather to the top of Beinn Bhan where there were good views .
Ben Lawers
Above a wider view: below the head of Loch Earn
The heathery ridge is an easy descent
One way to draw a circle
A sudden shaft of sunlight on the Sgiath Chuil group
A final look at the track leading up towards the col
28th Feb
The weather was even better , the view down Loch Earn clearer and the wind almost non-existant
I followed the same track to its end, but this time instead of heading up right, walked across to the two fence posts that seem to mark the col. (1.5hours). There was more snow higher up but the snowline was more sharply defined.
Looking up to Meall na Fearna - the 550m col is about halfway up the picture
Looking back from the col
Meall na Fearna from the col - Ben Vorlich back right
The descent diagonally Right from the col is easy - mainly on short grass - well worth the sacrifice of about 70m of altitude - view back from the low point
Looking East down the unnamed glen that joins Gleann Ghoinean
I set off directly towards the Corbett, but soon found myself thrashing about in a large area of peat hags, so I cut back right and followed easy grass slopes until I came across footprints heading right - walkers on the standard route.
Looking up to the peak
Looking back this is easy terrain 
The last 30m is the only steep bit on this hill. I had forgotten the Ice axe I planned to bring, but as the two sets of footprints heading straight up clearly showed that the owners had no equipment, I assumed i would manage OK
In fact there is only a 10m section that was any problem. In the conditions it had taken me 3.5 hours in all .
The views were superb
Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin look particularly impressive
Ben Challum et al
South across Glen Artney - the sun in my eyes was very bright and Umha Beag only just made it into the picture
I didn't greatly fancy descending the steep ascent slope, so I headed south and in no more than 20m found an easy-angled snow rake circling round to he its foot
Doh! I could have saved 10 minutes at least by coming up this way.
There were lots of footprints here and I followed them back through the maze of small mounds that guard this hill. There is something quite nice and relaxing about following other peoples footprnts on the way back. You don't have to think too hard and as long as you don't find a body they're going to lead you home
Looking back
I made it home in 2.5 hours here are Just a few photos:-
Looking East into Gleann Ghoinean - Beinn Dearg
Looking back from near the col
Creag na-h-Iolaire and Meall na Fearna from where I rejoined the path
Tree silhouettes on the cliff again
What to think
Well I'm biased of course, but I think this is a much nicer way up the hill. The Naismith times are about the same, and while there is nothing wrong with the standard route, Glen Vorlich is very enclosed and rather dull - doubly so if you've already been up it to the Munroes. This route takes you into much wilder territory and you can come down the ridge if you prefer a slight variation. Anyone else's views would be more than welcome
From doing the South Loch Earn ridge I had dscovered that this track goes far further than is shown on the map - in fact almost to the 550m Col at the West end of that ridge.
I decided at this point that I should leave Meall na Fearna for another day : I could have headed East along the South Loch Earn ridge, but it contains huge peat hags which need to be fully frozen, so I climbed up through the heather to the top of Beinn Bhan where there were good views .
28th Feb
The weather was even better , the view down Loch Earn clearer and the wind almost non-existant
I followed the same track to its end, but this time instead of heading up right, walked across to the two fence posts that seem to mark the col. (1.5hours). There was more snow higher up but the snowline was more sharply defined.
I set off directly towards the Corbett, but soon found myself thrashing about in a large area of peat hags, so I cut back right and followed easy grass slopes until I came across footprints heading right - walkers on the standard route.
The last 30m is the only steep bit on this hill. I had forgotten the Ice axe I planned to bring, but as the two sets of footprints heading straight up clearly showed that the owners had no equipment, I assumed i would manage OK
In fact there is only a 10m section that was any problem. In the conditions it had taken me 3.5 hours in all .The views were superb
I didn't greatly fancy descending the steep ascent slope, so I headed south and in no more than 20m found an easy-angled snow rake circling round to he its foot
Doh! I could have saved 10 minutes at least by coming up this way. 
There were lots of footprints here and I followed them back through the maze of small mounds that guard this hill. There is something quite nice and relaxing about following other peoples footprnts on the way back. You don't have to think too hard and as long as you don't find a body they're going to lead you home
I made it home in 2.5 hours here are Just a few photos:-
What to think
Well I'm biased of course, but I think this is a much nicer way up the hill. The Naismith times are about the same, and while there is nothing wrong with the standard route, Glen Vorlich is very enclosed and rather dull - doubly so if you've already been up it to the Munroes. This route takes you into much wilder territory and you can come down the ridge if you prefer a slight variation. Anyone else's views would be more than welcome
