Meall Dearg

[Gordie12]

I read JC and Graeme D's reports on this hill last weekend then Rod added a report during the week so plenty info for me to digest beforehand.

There didn't seem to be much room to dump the car where Graeme D and Rod started from so I carried on towards Aberfeldy and parked in a lay by 100 yards short of a bridge (over the Cochill Burn) and the entrance to the windfarm.

Starting from the lay by I crossed the road and just walked directly towards Meall Dearg and General Wade's Military road. Some deep heather as well as some damp bits but at least the cold weather has firmed things up a bit.

Early morning sunlight

You would think I meant it, quite by chance I joined the General's road at the exact point where a small cairn marked the point to leave the road and head on up the hill through the heather.

It didn't take long for the gradient to steepen as I followed a burn heading directly up the hill. Sometimes there is some suggestion of a very narrow track but it's one of those you lose very easily.

First view of the summit

Once the summit was in view the gradient eased and it was a fairly easy walk to the summit.

Crossing a snow covered track

On reaching the peat hags below the summit there were a set of size 9 footprints to follow but the ground was fairly firm so no muddy ankles.

Trig point with some warm winter sunshine

A little bit of cloud around but still great views of all the surrounding hills with the higher one's looking like they had a decent covering of snow.

Heading back I just took more or less the same route with the exception of the bog I found as my left leg disappeared to just below the knee................cold!!

Meall Dearg from the main road

Nearly back at the car