Graham · Fife & Perthshire
Meall Buidhe
Meall Buidhe (719m) — the yellow hill — sits at NN57 on the south side of Glen Lyon between Inverinain and Pubil. Its pale tussock-and-mat-grass slopes give the name and from a distance the dome looks unremarkable, but a 273m drop to neighbouring tops earns it Graham status in its own right. The summit cairn rests on a broad whaleback giving a remarkable panorama: Loch Lyon glinting below, the Lawers range filling the north, and on a clear day the Mamores stacked across the horizon.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, yellow” · Pronunciation: myowl boo-yeh
Quick facts
- Height
- 719.2m/ 2360ft
- Prominence
- 273 m
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 590 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN576275
- Parking
- NN647318
- Nearest city
- Stirling· 41km
- 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
moorland path 25% · heather hillside 45% · grassy upper slopes 20% · summit area 10%
Start from the Pubil/Loch Lyon end-of-road parking on the NN64 stretch. A landrover track climbs around the dam before a steady ascent of the eastern shoulder; the upper slope is pathless but the gradient is gentle on short golden grass. Approximately 13km return with 590m of ascent — a half-day outing on dry ground, longer when the burns are in spate.
Terrain
Mat-grass and bilberry on the upper dome give easy progress but mask wet hollows after rain — gaiters useful below 600m. The dam track is good vehicle road. No scrambling at any point; the only hazard is poor visibility on the broad, featureless summit area where compass-and-pacing skills earn their keep.
In winter
Above the Lyon glen, the Buidhe plateau collects spindrift from southwesterly storms and the long approach track can hold compacted snow well into March. SAIS Southern Cairngorms forecasts give the closest steer for cornice and windslab in adjacent corries. Avoid the steep north-east face into Coire Liaragan when fresh snow loads it.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 29m
- Edinburgh2h 50m
OS maps: OS Landranger 51
Mobile signal: Poor signal in upper Glen Lyon — occasional bars on the summit toward Loch Tay
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:46
- Sunset
- 22:00
- Civil dawn
- 03:48
- Civil dusk
- 22:58
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 July 2026
Around Meall Buidhe on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Crianlarich station
Crianlarich Munros — Ben More, Stob Binnein, Ben Lui, Cruach Ardrain
19km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Callander
Trossachs gateway — Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin, Rob Roy Way
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: The Glenturret
Crieff — Scotland's oldest working distillery; Famous Grouse Experience
27km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall Buidhe — common questions
- Is Meall Buidhe a hard climb?
- Meall Buidhe is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 590m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Mat-grass and bilberry on the upper dome give easy progress but mask wet hollows after rain — gaiters useful below 600m.
- How prominent is Meall Buidhe?
- Meall Buidhe has 273m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Meall Buidhe?
- Standard parking is at NN647318. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Meall Buidhe?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall Buidhe 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 Buidhe?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Meall Buidhe?
- Poor signal in upper Glen Lyon — occasional bars on the summit toward Loch Tay
- Is Meall Buidhe safe in winter?
- Above the Lyon glen, the Buidhe plateau collects spindrift from southwesterly storms and the long approach track can hold compacted snow well into March. SAIS Southern Cairngorms forecasts give the closest steer for cornice and windslab in adjacent corries. Avoid the steep north-east face into Coire Liaragan when fresh snow loads it.
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