Meall Fuar-mhonaidh may not be well known by name, but it is the most prominent summit around Loch Ness and provides a straightforward hillwalk with good views.
Straightforward hillwalk; there is a clear path throughout though it is eroded, rough and boggy on the upper slopes.
None to start.
Car park just before end of Bunloit road.
Meall Fuar-mhonaidh is well seen from many points around Loch Ness; it is the peak seen centre right on our banner photograph above (taken from Dores). Take the Bunloit road from Drumnadrochit, there is a car park on the right hand side just before it ends (beyond there is only parking for the pottery). Continue on foot along the road (signed 'Hill footpath'). Don't cross the bridge into the pottery but keep right (signed 'hill footpath' again and 'mountain path'). The pleasant path nows runs alongside a small stream. There's a clear view of the walk's objective, Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, ahead.
The path curves right away from the stream, and crosses a track via two gates (again signed). Beyond here it climbs through birch and hazel woodland. Soon there is a pleasant stream on the left of the path, which begins to climb more steeply; take your time as this is a very beautiful section. Eventually the path levels out once more, and crosses a fence at another gate. Continue through the woodland, which begins to thin out before being left behind completely. Another path joins in from the left; ignore this and continue up onto the moor.
There is a first glimpse of part of Loch Ness behind you, though most of it is still hidden by the intervening slopes. The path swings left a little on its climb, and crosses the deer fence at a giant stile before continuing up to the moorland ridge ahead. Once on the ridge, the path heads left along it; the way is still clearly worn though the going is rougher and a little boggy in places. Continue up the ridge directly towards Meall Fuar-mhonaidh; after passing a knobble of rock there is a slight dip before beginning the steeper ascent of the hill itself.
The path is very steep for the last hundred metres or so until you reach a cairn on what has appeared to be the summit until this point. Don't worry - the true summit isn't far beyond, and there is an excellent view down the Great Glen to Ben Nevis to compensate for any disappointment. Cross a shallow dip to reach the knobbly plateau that forms the top of the hill. There are several cairns; the true summit is the one at the far end, though there is no sign of the trig point - perhaps it is buried inside the cairn. The views of Loch Ness are excellent; after enjoying them, the return is the same way.
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