Graham · Central Highlands
Meall nan Eagan
Meall nan Eagan (657m) — the hill of the notches — is a peaty Drumochter outlier in the NN58 square, looking down on the Spey at Catlodge. Its rocky summit offers an unusually wide arc of view from the Cairngorms across to Ben Alder and the Drumochter Munros.
Quick facts
- Height
- 657.9m/ 2158ft
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 539 m
- Time
- 3–6 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN596874
- Parking
- NN588866
- Nearest
- Fort William· Inverness 58km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
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Standard route
heather moorland 60% · grass slopes 30% · rocky summit 10%
Park at Catlodge on the A889 between Newtonmore and Laggan. Take the estate track south past the cottages, then leave it on a quad rut climbing south-east onto the broad shoulder. The summit rock is the highest of several notched outcrops on the rolling crest — a short cross-country leg from the track high point.
Terrain
Estate track and quad ruts give an easy lead-in; off-piste the ground is firm heather with quartzite outcrops. The "notched" character of the summit means several knobs of similar height — confirm the true top by GPS in poor visibility.
In winter
Drumochter is famous for its drifting easterlies and Meall nan Eagan catches the full force. Wind-blown snow can hide the quartzite outcrops and make footing awkward; spikes are often more useful than crampons. The hill is reached easily by car so a short midwinter outing is feasible.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 36m
- Edinburgh3h 47m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Moderate. EE reasonable on the A889 corridor; weaker on the summit dome.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:34
- Sunset
- 21:56
- Civil dawn
- 03:33
- Civil dusk
- 22:57
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
Around Meall nan Eagan on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
4km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aviemore
Cairngorms base — Strathspey valley, ski centre, train
39km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
4km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall nan Eagan — common questions
- How hard is Meall nan Eagan?
- Meall nan Eagan is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 13km with 539m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-6 hours. Terrain: Estate track and quad ruts give an easy lead-in; off-piste the ground is firm heather with quartzite outcrops.
- Where do I park for Meall nan Eagan?
- Standard parking is at NN588866 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 nan Eagan?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall nan Eagan 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 nan Eagan?
- 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 nan Eagan?
- Moderate. EE reasonable on the A889 corridor; weaker on the summit dome.
- Is Meall nan Eagan safe in winter?
- Drumochter is famous for its drifting easterlies and Meall nan Eagan catches the full force. Wind-blown snow can hide the quartzite outcrops and make footing awkward; spikes are often more useful than crampons. The hill is reached easily by car so a short midwinter outing is feasible.