walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Meall Ghaordaidh

Meall Ghaordaidh


Postby JimboJim » Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:07 pm

Route description: Meall Ghaordaidh from Glen Lochay

Munros included on this walk: Meall Ghaordaidh

Date walked: 22/09/2014

Time taken: 3 hours

Distance: 9.75 km

Ascent: 895m

Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Was trying to save this one for emergency's, but forecast looked ok for Killin area and less good for other hills I had in mind, so Meall Ghaordaidh it was to be. Was a bit later in the day when I got to Glen Lochay. Parking spot was full, so had to opt for an alternative lay-by. The WH guidance was quite handy, keeping me on correct route up by the Allt Dhuin Croisg, then onto the hill, by the small cairn.
It was quite a steady hike, but not the steepest. Unfortunately, despite being warm and wind free, the views were obscured by a considerable haze, however the pleasant September meant the bogs were virtually dry. Imagine it could have been a very different story on a different day.
Meall Ghaordie 011_1024_657.JPG
Meall Ghaordaidh.

Nearing the rockier, upper section of the hill, I found myself on a good path, drifting more to the ridge on the NE side, yet people were descending from the SE. It wasn't too far, or too difficult to traverse round that way, to give myself more reassurance, though I was tempted to keep to this track and find my way to the top from wherever it led me.
Meall Ghaordie 009_1024_720.JPG
Meall Ghaordaidh, again.

Enjoyed the climb up to the top, which took 1.6hrs. I was greeted by a lady who enquired where I had just come from? It transpired she and her partner were a bit conflumoxed as to where they were. After convincing myself I was where I thought I was, I spent a wee while convincing them and they were just a little surprised to find out, it was not Stuc an Lochain! Having done a 'wrong hill' before, I didn't feel too smug.
Meall Ghaordie 003_983_768.JPG
Summit cairn.

A couple of hazy photo's, a drink and then it was back by much the same route, taking a hasty three hours, altogether. Not my most memorable hill, but I'm sure on a clear day, the views would have been braw.
Attachments
Meall Ghaordie 001_1024_768.JPG
A feint, hazy and somewhat distant Stuc an Lochain.
Meall Ghaordie 005_987_768.JPG
A feint, hazy, distant me?
Last edited by JimboJim on Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
JimboJim
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 713
Munros:282   Corbetts:55
Fionas:15   
Sub 2000:24   
Islands:22
Joined: Mar 9, 2012
Location: Lochgilphead
Walk wish-list

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby Fife Flyer » Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:53 pm

Nice one Jimmy :clap:
September has been a dry month but a non-view month, either in clag or very hazy, but that is the penalty for no rain :lol:
User avatar
Fife Flyer
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2646
Munros:273   Corbetts:58
Fionas:39   Donalds:89+33
Sub 2000:134   Hewitts:2
Islands:5
Joined: May 15, 2013
Location: Guess?

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby Silverhill » Wed Oct 01, 2014 9:16 pm

Good stuff! I can recommend going back on a clear day and tackling it from Glen Lyon. :D
User avatar
Silverhill
 
Posts: 1362
Munros:282   Corbetts:27
Fionas:8   Donalds:42
Sub 2000:28   
Joined: Jan 13, 2013

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby JimboJim » Wed Oct 01, 2014 11:09 pm

Thank you, Martin. The couple who were 'on the wrong hill' had come up that way. Certainly seems to be the more "classic" route. Me? I'm just looking for an easy ride! (and to keep my camera, ha ha!) Am watching post re Grey Corries, but don't think it would work out for me.

Jimmy
User avatar
JimboJim
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 713
Munros:282   Corbetts:55
Fionas:15   
Sub 2000:24   
Islands:22
Joined: Mar 9, 2012
Location: Lochgilphead
Walk wish-list

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby kaye.cantlay » Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:59 am

I did this 2 days before you on a Saturday and had the place (and car park) to myself....
Mind you, I did set off at sunrise so it may have got busier later.
The views from the top were fantastic.
kaye.cantlay
Walker
 
Posts: 504
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:158   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:31   Hewitts:205
Wainwrights:214   Islands:60
Joined: Oct 24, 2011

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby JimboJim » Thu Oct 02, 2014 6:42 pm

Aha, the early bird gets the early parking space, Kaye! And, the good views - most of the time! It would also have been relatively dry for you, too. Looks like the wets stuff moving in now, unfortunately.
User avatar
JimboJim
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 713
Munros:282   Corbetts:55
Fionas:15   
Sub 2000:24   
Islands:22
Joined: Mar 9, 2012
Location: Lochgilphead
Walk wish-list

Re: Meall Ghaordaidh

Postby SecretSquirrel » Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:40 am

I like your pics of the final summit climb. I did this one back in January with a fair bit of snow about, so its good to see your pictures and work out what lines I took through the crags.

Good hill & report :D
User avatar
SecretSquirrel
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 420
Munros:124   Corbetts:26
Fionas:24   Donalds:76
Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:1
Joined: Jul 2, 2012
Location: Hamilton

Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: alrent, angusmackintosh, chriscallaghan93, drchrisphillips, Swisspeter and 114 guests