Graham · Cairngorms
Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)
Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) (703m) is a sprawling heather hump on the south-eastern shoulder of Glen Shee, anchored in the NO16 square between Spittal of Glenshee and Glen Isla. Its Gaelic name Mealna Letter — the lump on the slope — captures the character: a peat-mantled summit ringed by three subsidiary tops linked by gentle ridges. From the trig the eye runs across Lornty to Schiehallion and onward to the Mounth.
Quick facts
- Height
- 703.1m/ 2307ft
- Prominence
- 265 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 576 m
- Time
- 4–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NO161672
- Parking
- NO168683
- Nearest city
- Perth· 44km
- 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
heather moorland 65% · bog and wet grass 25% · summit knoll 10%
Start from Tulchan Lodge in Glen Isla and follow the estate track north into the corrie of Allt Glen Lochsie. The bulldozed road gains the south-east shoulder before petering into heather around 550m, and a compass bearing then carries you onto the broad peat plateau where the cairn stands. Return via the same line or descend westward toward Glen Beanie for a longer loop.
Terrain
Forestry tracks give way to bracken at 350m, then waist-deep heather and bog above the 500m contour. The summit plateau is a maze of peat hags requiring deliberate compass work when cloud is down. Fence posts on the broad top serve as useful waymarks but stop short of the actual high point.
In winter
In hard winters this NO16 ridge holds dry blown snow and the peat hags fill in to give surprisingly fast going underfoot. Modest cornices form along the eastern crags above Lornty. SAIS Northern Cairngorms forecasts apply once snow lies above the 600m line, though avalanche risk on these gentle slopes is generally low.
This hill is in the Northern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 29m
- Edinburgh2h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 43
Mobile signal: Mixed. EE hit and miss; better on south-facing aspects toward Aberfoyle.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:40
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:40
- Civil dusk
- 22:59
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Pitlochry station
Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Edradour
Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting
21km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) — common questions
- What difficulty is Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 13km and 576m of ascent on the usual route — 4-6 hours for most parties. Underfoot: Forestry tracks give way to bracken at 350m, then waist-deep heather and bog above the 500m contour.
- What is Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)'s prominence?
- 265m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)?
- Most walkers start from NO168683. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)?
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter). Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) dog-friendly?
- 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 Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter)?
- Mixed. EE hit and miss; better on south-facing aspects toward Aberfoyle.
- Is Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) safe in winter?
- In hard winters this NO16 ridge holds dry blown snow and the peat hags fill in to give surprisingly fast going underfoot. Modest cornices form along the eastern crags above Lornty. SAIS Northern Cairngorms forecasts apply once snow lies above the 600m line, though avalanche risk on these gentle slopes is generally low.
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