Corbett · North-West Highlands
Meallan nan Uan
Meallan nan Uan — "the little hill of the lambs" — is the Corbett twin of the Munro Sgurr a' Mhuilinn, the two hills sharing a high col north of Strathconon. At 838m it sits a touch below its bigger neighbour but offers an arguably finer summit: a pointed boulder on a small rocky top with a startling view down 700m to the floor of Strathconon. The pair is almost always tackled together from the road south of Inverchoran.
Quick facts
- Height
- 838.3m/ 2750ft
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 737 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NH263544
- Parking
- NH287555
- Nearest city
- Inverness
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
stalkers path 25% · steep grass 30% · high col 25% · summit rocks 20%
Park at the Strathconon road lay-by near Glenmarksie and follow the stalkers path north-west into Coire Mhor. From the corrie, climb steep grass and rock onto the south ridge of Sgurr a' Mhuilinn first, then descend the high col north and pull up rocky ground to the summit of Meallan nan Uan. Around 15km return with 737m of net ascent for the pair (well over 1000m of cumulative climbing once both tops are included).
Terrain
The Coire Mhor stalkers path is firm but degrades to wet peat where the corrie opens out. Above 500m the going turns to steep grass with rocky steps; one short section near the south ridge of the Munro involves hand contact with rock. The col between the two hills is broad short grass with the rocky summit of Meallan nan Uan a clear point at the end. Watch the east drop above Strathconon — steep and crag-broken.
In winter
A more serious winter outing than the modest elevation suggests — the pair-day involves significant cumulative ascent and the steep ground on Sgurr a' Mhuilinn's south ridge ices up early. Cornices form on the east side of the connecting col above the Strathconon corrie. The Strathconon road is single-track and quiet; access reliable but slow in any winter weather.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 41m
- Edinburgh4h 57m
OS maps: OS Landranger 25
Mobile signal: No signal in upper Strathconon; intermittent at the road
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:32
- Sunset
- 22:03
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 23:07
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Meallan nan Uan on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dingwall station
Ben Wyvis approach; Easter Ross; junction for Kyle and Far North lines
29km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
41km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
27km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meallan nan Uan — common questions
- How hard is Meallan nan Uan?
- Meallan nan Uan is rated 5/5 (very challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 15km with 737m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Coire Mhor stalkers path is firm but degrades to wet peat where the corrie opens out.
- Where do I park for Meallan nan Uan?
- Standard parking is at NH287555 near Inverness. 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 Meallan nan Uan?
- The standard good-weather months for Meallan nan Uan are May, June, July, August, September. 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 Meallan nan Uan?
- 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 Meallan nan Uan?
- No signal in upper Strathconon; intermittent at the road
- Is Meallan nan Uan safe in winter?
- A more serious winter outing than the modest elevation suggests — the pair-day involves significant cumulative ascent and the steep ground on Sgurr a' Mhuilinn's south ridge ices up early. Cornices form on the east side of the connecting col above the Strathconon corrie. The Strathconon road is single-track and quiet; access reliable but slow in any winter weather.