Corbett · Central Highlands
Meall na Leitreach
Meall na Leitreach is a quiet 777m Corbett above Dalnaspidal at the south end of the Pass of Drumochter, between Loch Garry and Loch Ericht. The hill is a broad rounded mass of heather rather than a striking peak — Drumochter-fringe ground, busy with deer and grouse but rarely with walkers. The summit is a small cairn on a featureless dome with views west into the Ben Alder forest and east across the Pass of Drumochter to The Sow and A' Bhuidheanach Bheag.
Quick facts
- Height
- 777.1m/ 2550ft
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 637 m
- Time
- 4–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN640702
- Parking
- NN646729
- Nearest
- Fort William· Inverness 75km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
public path 25% · rough heather 40% · broad ridge 25% · summit cairn 10%
Park at the Dalnaspidal lay-by on the A9 and follow the public path west across the Pass and along the north shore of Loch Garry. After roughly 2km, climb pathless heather slopes south onto the broad north ridge of Meall na Leitreach. A gentle climb on the ridge brings the cairn. About 14km out-and-back with 637m of climbing. Often combined with The Sow of Atholl or An Dun for a longer day.
Terrain
The Loch Garry public path is firm peat as far as the lochside. Off the path the ground is rough heather and tussock with no waymarks — slow but never technical. The broad summit ridge is short heather with the small cairn at the highest of several similar bumps. Navigation by compass essential in mist; no exposure.
In winter
A dependable winter Corbett with one of the most accessible starts on the Drumochter — the A9 is reliably gritted year-round. The hill itself is gentle with no avalanche concerns. The pathless heather above the loch becomes a featureless snow slope in whiteout. Daylight is short midwinter but the close approach helps.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 14m
- Edinburgh2h 26m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal along the A9; nothing on the upper hill
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:35
- Sunset
- 21:55
- Civil dawn
- 03:34
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall na Leitreach.
Around Meall na Leitreach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
15km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
30km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
15km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall na Leitreach — common questions
- How hard is Meall na Leitreach?
- Meall na Leitreach is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 14km with 637m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-7 hours. Terrain: The Loch Garry public path is firm peat as far as the lochside.
- Where do I park for Meall na Leitreach?
- Standard parking is at NN646729 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 na Leitreach?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall na Leitreach 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 na Leitreach?
- 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 na Leitreach?
- Reasonable signal along the A9; nothing on the upper hill
- Is Meall na Leitreach safe in winter?
- A dependable winter Corbett with one of the most accessible starts on the Drumochter — the A9 is reliably gritted year-round. The hill itself is gentle with no avalanche concerns. The pathless heather above the loch becomes a featureless snow slope in whiteout. Daylight is short midwinter but the close approach helps.