Photographs, map and route description of the Munro Meall Ghaordie above Glen Lochay and Glen Lyon in the Central Highlands of Scotland

Route Map for Meall Ghaordie above Glen Lochay

Route Map of Meall Ghaordie

above Glen Lochay

MEALL GHAORDIE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Meall Ghaordaidh is a solitary Munro which lies between Glen Lyon and Glen Lochay, some six miles north-west of Killin at the west end of Loch Tay. Although relatively isolated, its slopes are readily accessible and the standard ascent from Glen Lochay is straightforward and fairly quick, making it a good hill for the shorter winter daylight hours.
The walk starts at Duncroisk, three or so miles up the glen and about 200m beyond the bridge over the Allt Dhuin Croisg. where there is space for a number of carefully parked cars at a widening in the single track road. This is just beyond a gated track entrance on the north side of the road which is signposted to Meall Ghaordaidh.
There are additional spaces just before the bridge, as well as a little further up the road, where cars can be squeezed in off the road without blocking any passing places.
Walk back towards the bridge and go through the gate into the ﬁeld to follow the rough track which passes through another gate then rises up the hillside. The track leads to a locked gate in a wall which is crossed via a stile on the right, then continues up on to the long, broad southwest shoulder of the hill. Either break off the track at a cairn just before some old shielings and climb this shoulder, or continue a little further uphill on the track to where it passes through a fence, then break off up on to the broad shoulder. It is a long, though uncomplicated ascent. which towards the top passes through some broken rocks to reach the trig point enclosed within a circular stone shelter ( 1039m; 340ft). Due to the hill's central location. the summit provides a very ﬁne viewpoint. Return via the route of ascent.

MEALL GHAORDIE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION 2:

Location: Perthshire
Map: OS Landranger 51
Distance: 5 miles ( 8km )
Time: 34 hours
Grade: Easy hill walk

Glen Lochay’s Meall Ghaordie will never win any prizes for popularity but being a Munro — it stands 3409ft / 1039m high - it will never be short of visitors.
Even on a wet and blustery afternoon the hill attracts its fair share of baggers.
In summer it’s no more than a grassy plod, a good afternoon or evening stroll - even a hill such as Meall Ghaordie has its good attributes.
Meall Ghaordie is essentially a blunt nose that lifts itself above the rough moorland of the long, undulating ridge between the Lairig
Breisleich and the Lairig nan Lunn. Both passes connect Glen Lochay with Glen Lyon.
The guidebook route follows the long grassy slopes from Glen Lochay.
The route from the north, from Glen Lyon, is marginally more attractive, thanks to a couple of rocky spurs, Creag an Tulabhain and Creag Laoghain.
Once you cross the River Lyon near the Stronuich Reservoir a straightforward route follows the Allt Laoghain high into its corrie
from where grassy slopes lead to the summit cairn. An even better route from Glen Lyon crosses the river near Cashlie and follows the line of the Allt
Chiorlaich to a high bealach just west of Meall Na Cnoc-laraich. From the summit of Meall Na Cnoc-laraich a short descent then a climb up a broad
ridge takes you on to the Munro.
The Glen Lochay ascent is even more straightforward. A long trudge of some 900m from Tullich or Duncroisk follows grassy slopes, the monotony
of which is only broken by some rocky outcrops near the summit ridge.
Probably the most rewarding way to climb Meall Ghaordie is by using two cars and making the ascent of the hill part of a high-level traverse between
Glen Lochay and Glen Lyon. From the summit of Meall Ghaordie, a north-east trending ridge drops to a high bealach from where steep slopes
climb to the summit of the shapely Beinn nan Oighreag. From here another ridge stretches north above the Lairig Breisleich before dwindling
out above the Lochan na Lairig road as it descends to Bridge of Balgie.

Route:

Start and finish at the small layby at Duncrolsk in Glen Lochay ( GR: NN530362 ).
Go through the gate by the road and follow the ( often muddy ) footpath through fields on the W side of the Allt Dhuin Croisg.
Follow this path as it climbs higher past some old shielings.
Cross a fence by a stile on to open hillside and continue on the path until you reach an old sheepfank on the skyline.
From here leave the path and take a NW line up the broad and undulating ridge to more rocky slopes just below the summit.
Weave a route around the rocks and climb more steeply to the summit trig point that sits inside a large circular cairn.
Descend by the same route.