Is Leana Mhor a hard climb?

Leana Mhor is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 560m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Ground conditions: Estate path and forest track for the first 4km, then deep heather and tussock on the south-east ridge.

How much drop does Leana Mhor have?

The drop is 174m: measured from the summit of Leana Mhor down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Leana Mhor?

Park at NN323872. 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 Leana Mhor?

Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November on Leana Mhor. 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 Leana Mhor?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By the OutdoorSCOT editor

Photo: PeterJG1970 / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Graham · Central Highlands

Leana Mhor

Leana Mhor (683m) — the big meadow — is a broad heathery hill on the north side of Loch Treig, set in the NN28 square between the West Highland Line and the Easains. The name reflects its sweeping cropped-grass summit. From the cairn the view runs south down Loch Treig and west to the Aonachs and Ben Nevis.

Gaelic: “big” · Pronunciation: leana vore

Quick facts

Height: 683.9m/ 2244ft
Prominence: 174 m
Distance: ~13 km
Ascent: ~560 m
Time: 4–6 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN284878
Parking: NN323872
Nearest city: Fort William· 23km
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

blanket bog 55% · heather moorland 35% · grassy summit 10%

13km · 560m ascent · 3.5 hrs

From Tulloch railway station on the West Highland Line follow the track south-west along the Allt Cam to the Lairig Leacach watershed. Strike up the south-east ridge on heather and turf to gain the broad plateau. A small cairn marks the high point at the western end of the meadow.

Terrain

Estate path and forest track for the first 4km, then deep heather and tussock on the south-east ridge. The broad summit plateau is cropped grass and minor peat — easy walking once gained but featureless in cloud. Bog around the headwater burns is unavoidable.

In winter

The Lochaber interior catches heavy Atlantic snow that lies long on this NN28 plateau. Drifting fills the burn channels deceptively and the broad cropped-grass top becomes a whiteout trap. SAIS Creag Meagaidh forecasts cover this ground.

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

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

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 41m
Edinburgh3h 11m

Parking: NN323872

OS maps: OS Landranger 34, OS Landranger 41

Mobile signal: Weak. Remote Rannoch area; blank on every network.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

11h 49mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 07:49
Sunset: 18:21
Civil dawn: 07:11
Civil dusk: 19:00

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 October 2026

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Around Leana Mhor on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Fort William

Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber

23km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery

Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics

20km 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.

Leana Mhor — common questions

Is Leana Mhor a hard climb?: Leana Mhor is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 560m of ascent and takes most walkers 4-6 hours. Ground conditions: Estate path and forest track for the first 4km, then deep heather and tussock on the south-east ridge.
How much drop does Leana Mhor have?: The drop is 174m: measured from the summit of Leana Mhor down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Leana Mhor?: Park at NN323872. 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 Leana Mhor?: Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November on Leana Mhor. 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 Leana Mhor?: 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 Leana Mhor?: Weak. Remote Rannoch area; blank on every network.
Is Leana Mhor safe in winter?: The Lochaber interior catches heavy Atlantic snow that lies long on this NN28 plateau. Drifting fills the burn channels deceptively and the broad cropped-grass top becomes a whiteout trap. SAIS Creag Meagaidh forecasts cover this ground.

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