Corbett · Far North
Meall Horn
Meall Horn — sometimes anglicised as Meallhorn or just the Horn — is a 776m Corbett in the Reay Forest of north-west Sutherland, between Loch Stack and the great quartzite peaks of Foinaven and Arkle. A mix of Moine schist with quartzite outcrops gives the upper hill a similar pale, blocky character to its bigger neighbours. The summit is a large stone cairn on a wide rounded top with one of the most striking views of the Foinaven ridge as a foreground feature.
Quick facts
- Height
- 776.7m/ 2548ft
- Prominence
- 264 m
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 636 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NC352449
- Parking
- NC295394
- Nearest
- Ullapool
- 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
estate track 35% · wet peat 25% · quartzite scree 30% · stone cairn 10%
Start from the A838 at Achfary, between Loch Stack and Loch More, and follow the estate track north toward Lone. After roughly 5km, leave the track and climb pathless quartzite and heather slopes east onto the broad south ridge of Meall Horn. Around 14km return with 636m of ascent. Often combined with neighbouring Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill for a long Reay Forest day.
Terrain
The Achfary estate track is well-graded. Off the track the lower ground is wet peat; the upper hillside is broken schist with patches of loose quartzite scree — pale, painful underfoot in places. The summit area is a broad stony top with the large cairn unmistakable. Quartzite slippery in wet conditions. No exposure on the standard line.
In winter
A genuinely remote winter outing above 58°N — short daylight, full Atlantic loading, and quartzite that ices up early. No avalanche concerns on the standard line. The A838 is generally kept open along Loch More. Phone signal is absent across the Reay Forest.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 23m
- Edinburgh5h 29m
OS maps: OS Landranger 9
Mobile signal: No signal at Achfary; nothing across the Reay Forest interior
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:17
- Civil dawn
- 03:25
- Civil dusk
- 23:25
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall Horn.
On a long-distance route
Meall Horn sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Meall Horn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Meall Horn — common questions
- Is Meall Horn a hard climb?
- Meall Horn is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 636m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-7 hours. Ground conditions: The Achfary estate track is well-graded.
- How much drop does Meall Horn have?
- The drop is 264m: measured from the summit of Meall Horn down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Meall Horn?
- Park at NC295394 near Ullapool. 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 Horn?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September on Meall Horn. 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 Horn?
- 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 Horn?
- No signal at Achfary; nothing across the Reay Forest interior
- Is Meall Horn safe in winter?
- A genuinely remote winter outing above 58°N — short daylight, full Atlantic loading, and quartzite that ices up early. No avalanche concerns on the standard line. The A838 is generally kept open along Loch More. Phone signal is absent across the Reay Forest.
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