Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill

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The hill with the longest name in Scotland makes for an enjoyable circuit with - as is usual in the far northwest - stunning summit views.

Terrain

Grassy stalkers' track for initial ascent, then pathless ridges - heather at first, becoming rockier. Descent crosses peat bogs and includes burn crossing.

Public Transport

None.

Start

A838 just south of Kinloch. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is parking on the A838 just south of Kinloch where the track branches off for Aultanrynie. Begin the walk by following this track, soon passing the tiny burial ground of Cladh An Loin Leith and then continuing along the northeast shore of Loch More. Ben Stack dominates the view up the loch, taking on a fine pyramidal form from here.

Stage 2

Turn right onto a grassy track just before Aultanrynie is reached. When this forks, keep right (the left branch leads to a bridge over the burn). This very pleasant grass track now zig-zags steeply up the hillside, giving great views over Loch More. Eventually it swings southeast around point 513m before curving north behind the peak and ending at a cairn.

Stage 3

From here the pathless, heathery and ill-defined Meallan Liath Beag ridge is followed NNE. The going is a little boggy in places, with one small lochan, and there are several dips and undulations to cross before the ground steepens and becomes a little rockier for the pull up towards the Càrn Dearg ridge.

Stage 4

The grassy ridge is reached at a small cairn, and is strewn with chunks of quartzite slabs. The summit of Càrn Dearg can be reached from here by a short detour; otherwise descend - initially over stones - along the ridge to the west. Soon stunning views open up down to Coire Loch - adding to the already-impressive distant vistas taking in Ben More Assynt and Conival, Quinag, Arkle, Foinaven and Ben Hope.

Stage 5

Continue over point 741m and then across a wide bealach before aiming up the stone-littered dome of Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill. The summit is a trig point with a wind-shelter cairn, and is a sensational viewpoint - with Loch Stack, Ben Stack and the western seaboard added to the peaks already in view.

Stage 6

Aim S and then SSE down slopes of grass and stones to reach the boggy moorland below. It is possible to pick up a rocky rib that aids passage across this for some distance before there is no alternative but to brave the peat bogs and hags. Cross the Allt an Reinidh (could be dangerous in spate) before it flows into a ravine and continue across the bogs beyond to pick up the grassy track used in the ascent. From here retrace your steps back to the start.

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