Meall na Leitreach - a moorland plateau whose western flanks drop steeply to Loch Garry - provides a quick and straightforward hillwalk from Dalnaspidal Lodge. The ascent provides good views to the north looking through the Drumochter Pass.
Landrover track at start, then ATV track (rough and muddy at times) to within 150m of summit
None to start.
Parking area before level crossing, near Dalnaspidal Lodge.
There is parking on the approach road to Dalnaspidal Lodge, just before the level crossing over the railway. Begin the walk by crossing the railway and then taking the next right turn through a gate onto a smaller track (public footpath sign). Follow this until the sluice bridge over the Allt Dubhaig; turn left here to follow the near high grassy bank of the concrete waterway.
At the end of this go through a gate and then over the wide bridge straight ahead to head up to a t-junction with a track. Dog-leg left and then immediately right onto a rough and wet ATV track. This climbs up the hillside opposite, eventually passing through a gate in a fence. Continue uphill on the track, with ever improving views looking back through the Drumochter Pass with the busy A9, railway and pylons all passing through it. The route keeps just east of the Allt nam Pliadean burn which is marked on OS maps.
The slope eventually eases into a plateau and the ATV tracks curve to the west, leading to a small cairn. There is then a brief descent before the route climbs once more onto the uppermost part of Meall na Leitreach. The summit cairn lies around 150m off to the left from the tracks and is reached by following a faint path across short-cropped heather. The views give an impression of the vast empty moors and rolling hills of this part of Scotland, punctured only by Drumochter; the flat plateau robs them of depth however, and Loch Garry is out of sight.
Unless intent on a very long walk, the usual return is the same way. In descent the going is very pleasant, with the rough track, comfortable gradients and great views ahead. The walk is a short one by hillwalking standards, and many walkers will opt to combine this route once back down in the glen with an ascent of The Sow of Atholl opposite.
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