Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Meall Coire an Lochain
Meall Coire an Lochain — rounded hill of the corrie of the small loch — rises to 517m at NC 211 065 in the empty country south of Inchnadamph. The lochan in its east-facing corrie is unusually circular and is held in by a moraine ridge from the last glaciation.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, corrie, the, small loch” · Pronunciation: myowl kor-a an loch-een
Quick facts
- Height
- 517m/ 1696ft
- Grid ref
- NC 21185 06510
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 76km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 55% · lochside bog 25% · rocky summit 20%
Most accessible from the A837 near Loch Borralan, walking south-east across open moor for 3km before climbing onto the east shoulder. There is no path; expect 4 hours on the round trip.
Terrain
Moine schist with intrusive granite, giving a varied summit area of pavement and boulder field. The corrie lochan is set among Salisbury Crags-style cliffs of dark rock — a striking contrast against the pale moor.
In winter
The lochan freezes by mid-December most years and provides a useful navigation anchor in cloud. The east aspect of the corrie holds deep snow into May; the summit ridge above blows clear in any breeze.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 55m
- Edinburgh7h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 15, OS Explorer 439E
Mobile signal: Poor. Networks fail completely; download offline maps before departing.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:16
- Sunset
- 22:25
- Civil dawn
- 03:01
- Civil dusk
- 23:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Meall Coire an Lochain on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Meall Coire an Lochain — common questions
- How hard is Meall Coire an Lochain?
- Meall Coire an Lochain is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Moine schist with intrusive granite, giving a varied summit area of pavement and boulder field.
- When is the best time to climb Meall Coire an Lochain?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall Coire an Lochain are March, 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 Coire an Lochain?
- 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 Coire an Lochain?
- Poor. Networks fail completely; download offline maps before departing.
- Is Meall Coire an Lochain safe in winter?
- The lochan freezes by mid-December most years and provides a useful navigation anchor in cloud. The east aspect of the corrie holds deep snow into May; the summit ridge above blows clear in any breeze.
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