Corbett · Knoydart
Meall a' Phubuill
Meall a' Phubuill — "hill of the tent" — is a 772m Corbett in the rolling country between Glen Loy and Glen Mallie, west of Fort William and Loch Lochy. With 467m of prominence and no nearby Munros, it gives a quiet day in heathery hill country with views east to Ben Nevis, west toward Knoydart, and a striking close-range outlook over the Loch Arkaig forest. A small cairn tops the wide grassy summit dome.
Quick facts
- Height
- 772.7m/ 2535ft
- Prominence
- 467 m
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 633 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN029854
- Parking
- NN025788
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 14km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
loch track 25% · rough heather 45% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Park at the small lay-by near Fassfern on the A830 west of Fort William and follow the public estate track north up Glen Loy. After roughly 4km of track, leave it and climb pathless heather and grass slopes north-west onto the broad south ridge of Meall a' Phubuill. The ridge gives a gentle pull to the summit. Around 14km return with 633m of ascent. Sometimes combined with neighbouring Druim Tarsuinn for a long Glen Loy day.
Terrain
The Glen Loy track is firm gravel. Beyond it the lower hillside is tussocky grass and bracken; the upper slopes are short heather with the summit dome unmistakable. Pathless but easy walking. The cairn sits at the high point of a wide top with no exposure or scrambling.
In winter
A relatively mild winter Corbett — gentle gradients, no avalanche concerns and a sheltered Glen Loy approach. The summit dome catches westerly snowfall. The A830 is gritted; the Glen Loy single-track road can be slow after snow. Phone signal is intermittent at Fassfern and absent on the hill.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 49m
- Edinburgh3h 11m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Intermittent at Fassfern; nothing on the hill
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:42
- Sunset
- 21:10
- Civil dawn
- 04:56
- Civil dusk
- 21:57
NOAA Solar Calculator · 12 August 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall a' Phubuill.
Around Meall a' Phubuill on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Banavie station
Neptune's Staircase; alternate Fort William access; Great Glen Way
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
13km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall a' Phubuill — common questions
- Is Meall a' Phubuill a hard climb?
- Meall a' Phubuill is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 633m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-7 hours. Ground conditions: The Glen Loy track is firm gravel.
- How much drop does Meall a' Phubuill have?
- The drop is 467m: measured from the summit of Meall a' Phubuill down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Meall a' Phubuill?
- Park at NN025788. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb Meall a' Phubuill?
- Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Meall a' Phubuill. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Meall a' Phubuill?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Meall a' Phubuill?
- Intermittent at Fassfern; nothing on the hill
- Is Meall a' Phubuill safe in winter?
- A relatively mild winter Corbett — gentle gradients, no avalanche concerns and a sheltered Glen Loy approach. The summit dome catches westerly snowfall. The A830 is gritted; the Glen Loy single-track road can be slow after snow. Phone signal is intermittent at Fassfern and absent on the hill.
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