Graham · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Meall Mor
Meall Mor (676m) is the big rounded hump on the south side of Glen Coe in NN15, set above the village and looking straight across to the Aonach Eagach ridge. Its 304m of re-ascent makes it an independent summit despite being overshadowed by the giants opposite, and the cairn enjoys an unsurpassed grandstand view of the Three Sisters and Bidean nam Bian.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, big” · Pronunciation: myowl more
Quick facts
- Height
- 676m/ 2218ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 554 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN106559
- Parking
- NN068542
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 15%
Park at the National Trust car park at Glencoe village and cross the bridge over the River Coe. Pick up the path through Glencoe Lochan woodland, then climb the steep, rooty north-east shoulder direct. Above 400m the slope eases and a quad rut runs through heather to the broad summit cairn — the descent down the same line is easier on the knees than tackling the south face.
Terrain
Damp birch woodland on the lower slopes followed by a sustained heather and bracken pull. Above the lochan the angle eases onto a tussocky shoulder with a faint quad rut leading to the cairn. The south face is craggy and best avoided.
In winter
Meall Mor sees serious Glen Coe snowfall — the north-east shoulder ices to bare schist and the south face above Loch Achtriochtan can hold lethal wind slab. SAIS Glencoe forecasts apply directly. The hill is a useful low-level option when the bigger peaks across the glen are out of condition.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 11m
- Edinburgh3h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better on south-facing aspects toward Loch Linnhe.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:39
- Sunset
- 21:57
- Civil dawn
- 03:39
- Civil dusk
- 22:57
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Meall Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Fort William station
Ben Nevis, Mamores, Aonachs, Knoydart ferry connection
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
18km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter 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
Meall Mor — common questions
- How hard is Meall Mor?
- Meall Mor is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 554m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Damp birch woodland on the lower slopes followed by a sustained heather and bracken pull.
- Where do I park for Meall Mor?
- Standard parking is at NN068542 near Fort William. 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 Meall Mor?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall Mor are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 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 Mor?
- 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 Meall Mor?
- Moderate. EE intermittent on summit; better on south-facing aspects toward Loch Linnhe.
- Is Meall Mor safe in winter?
- Meall Mor sees serious Glen Coe snowfall — the north-east shoulder ices to bare schist and the south face above Loch Achtriochtan can hold lethal wind slab. SAIS Glencoe forecasts apply directly. The hill is a useful low-level option when the bigger peaks across the glen are out of condition.