Meall Tairneachan and Farragon Hill

Summary

Between Loch Tummel and Aberfeldy is an area of lumpy, heathery hills and minor summits, with two Corbetts: Meall Tairneachan and the more distinctive Farragon Hill. Below the top of the former is the site of an old open-cast mine and the hills are scored with hard tracks; this route follows the old mine road up to the first hill and through the site of the former mine before making a pathless, more rugged approach to Farragon Hill.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Track with section of pathless, rough heather.

Getting there

Start

Start of former Foss Mine track, B846 south of Tummel Bridge.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NN780561

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 17.25km / 10.75 miles
Time: 5.5 - 6.5 hours
Ascent: 878m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Meall Tairneachan
Corbett: Farragon Hill

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Walk Description

User reports (13)

Stage 1

The route starts at the foot of the old Foss Mine track which branches off the B846 between Aberfeldy and Tummel Bridge. There is no parking on the start of the track itself, but there is limited space on the verge of the main road nearby. Head up the main track, passing spoil heaps and continue ahead past a barrier to begin climbing steeply through the forestry. As height is gained rapidly, there are views back towards Schiehallion through the trees. The track crosses two cattle grids (with locked gates alongside).

Stage 2

Eventually open moorland is reached, and Meall Tairneachan is seen ahead. The track passes south of Meall Damh and then climbs high across the north side of Meall Tairneachan. After it swings right at a turning area is the best point to leave it to make the short detour up to the summit.

Stage 3

There is a faint grassy path at first and then a short boggy section before the stone-built trig point is reached. The views west and north are of mountains, with the Ben Lawers and Schiehallion ranges prominent, whilst southeast the landscape falls away towards the lower end of Strathtay. A direct route east to the track is barred by steep slopes and broken crags so it is easier to retrace your steps back to where you left the track before turning right to continue along it.

Stage 4

Follow the main track - ignoring any branches off to the right. Soon it begins a steep, zig-zagging descent down to the site of the former barytes mine. The track forks at the mine with two ways through, either way join up but the southern way is the one on the map.

Stage 5

Continue along the track which now descends northeast. The harder surface is soon replaced by a grassier one as the track curves east and begins climbing once more. After a final zig-zagging descent it is left behind at last, with the craggy summit of Farragon Hill rising beyond a pathless, boggy corrie. Contour this corrie on the south side, passing through some deep heather and a couple of boggier sections.

Stage 6

The final climb up to the summit is on steep grass, avoiding the crags - there is a trace of a path on this section. The tiny cairn is a fine viewpoint, with Beinn a'Ghlo prominent to the northeast, and feels much the wildest place on this walk despite another major track being prominent down to the east. Retrace your steps back to the track and follow it all the way back past the old mine and down to the start.

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