Marilyn · Central Highlands
Meall Mor
A nondescript-looking 492m hill east of Inverness, north of the A9 corridor near Tomatin. Despite the unassuming profile, the broad summit gives a striking view across the Findhorn valley and out to the Moray coast. The hill is hardly visited despite being only minutes from a major road.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, big” · Pronunciation: myowl more
Quick facts
- Height
- 492m/ 1614ft
- Prominence
- 175 m
- Grid ref
- NH 73736 35566
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 12km
- 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
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · mossy ground 10%
A short approach from Findhorn Bridge follows a forestry track before breaking out onto open moor. Pick a line directly for the trig pillar; 5km return in 90 minutes is typical.
Terrain
Brashings underfoot near recently felled blocks of conifer, then dry heather and grass mosaic on the open upper hill. No streams to cross on the standard line.
In winter
Cold air pooling in the Findhorn valley sometimes gives this hill a long frost while the summit sits above the inversion. A bright early-morning ascent in February gives memorable views over the cloud-filled strath below.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 59m
- Edinburgh4h 25m
OS maps: OS Landranger 27, OS Explorer 416N
Mobile signal: Variable. EE sporadic up top; better toward Inverness.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:37
- Sunset
- 21:05
- Civil dawn
- 04:51
- Civil dusk
- 21:52
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 August 2026
Around Meall Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Inverness station
Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Tomatin
Tomatin — large Highland distillery just off the A9, south of Inverness
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall Mor — common questions
- How hard is Meall Mor?
- We grade Meall Mor at 1/5, which puts it in easy territory. Underfoot: Brashings underfoot near recently felled blocks of conifer, then dry heather and grass mosaic on the open upper hill.
- What is Meall Mor's prominence?
- 175m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall Mor to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Meall Mor?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall Mor. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Meall Mor dog-friendly?
- 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?
- Variable. EE sporadic up top; better toward Inverness.
- Is Meall Mor safe in winter?
- Cold air pooling in the Findhorn valley sometimes gives this hill a long frost while the summit sits above the inversion. A bright early-morning ascent in February gives memorable views over the cloud-filled strath below.
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