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.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

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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
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
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%

13km · 576m ascent · 3.6 hrs

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 Southern Cairngorms forecasts apply once snow lies above the 600m line, though avalanche risk on these gentle slopes is generally low.

Kit for this: the winter Munro kit list · which boots take crampons

This hill is in the Southern Cairngorms SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow2h 29m
Edinburgh2h 0m

Parking: NO168683

OS maps: OS Landranger 43

Mobile signal: Mixed. EE hit and miss; better on south-facing aspects toward Aberfoyle.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:43
Sunset: 18:16
Civil dawn: 07:05
Civil dusk: 18:54

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Duchray Hill (Mealna Letter) on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Pitlochry station

Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery

24km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Pitlochry

Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie

24km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Edradour

Pitlochry — until recently Scotland's smallest distillery; charming Perthshire setting

21km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

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 Southern Cairngorms forecasts apply once snow lies above the 600m line, though avalanche risk on these gentle slopes is generally low.

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