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
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 633 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN029854
- Parking
- NN025788
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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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.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
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
- 04:38
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:37
- Civil dusk
- 23:00
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 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
- How hard is Meall a' Phubuill?
- 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. Terrain: The Glen Loy track is firm gravel.
- Where do I park for Meall a' Phubuill?
- Standard parking is at NN025788 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Meall a' Phubuill?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall a' Phubuill are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Meall a' Phubuill?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile 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.