Marilyn · perthshire
Meall Odhar a' Chire
Meall Odhar a' Chire — the dun-coloured lump of the corrie — is an 835m Marilyn in NN-square Atholl, sitting on the west side of the Gaick pass between Loch an Duin and Loch Bhrodainn. The summit watches the Sronphadruig stalking road threading the deep cleft below.
Quick facts
- Height
- 835m/ 2740ft
- Grid ref
- NN 79673 78588
- Nearest city
- Inverness· 68km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather moorland 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Best reached from the Gaick estate road south of Tromie Bridge, with bicycle helpful for the long in-walk. From beside Loch an Duin a steep slope of heather and broken ground climbs west to the summit; alternative descent down the south ridge gives variation.
Terrain
Approach is on stalking road and then trackless tundra above the loch shore. The flanks above Loch an Duin are steep cropped grass with occasional band of broken schist; the summit dome is short bilberry and lichen.
In winter
The narrow Gaick pass funnels wind and loads the east-facing slopes with windslab. Drifts can mask the loch edge below; keep well back from the cornice line above the steep east face. The estate road is sometimes ice-glazed beneath an inch of fresh snow.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 44m
- Edinburgh3h 9m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42, OS Explorer 051W, OS Explorer 394W
Mobile signal: Poor. Signal drops on approach; remote Breadalbane glen gives zero coverage.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:22
- Sunset
- 22:11
- Civil dawn
- 03:15
- Civil dusk
- 23:18
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Meall Odhar a' Chire on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Blair Atholl station
Beinn a Ghlo; Glen Tilt corridor north to the Cairngorms
15km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
18km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall Odhar a' Chire — common questions
- How hard is Meall Odhar a' Chire?
- Meall Odhar a' Chire is rated 3/5 (moderately challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Approach is on stalking road and then trackless tundra above the loch shore.
- When is the best time to climb Meall Odhar a' Chire?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall Odhar a' Chire are April, May, June, September. 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 Odhar a' Chire?
- 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 Odhar a' Chire?
- Poor. Signal drops on approach; remote Breadalbane glen gives zero coverage.
- Is Meall Odhar a' Chire safe in winter?
- The narrow Gaick pass funnels wind and loads the east-facing slopes with windslab. Drifts can mask the loch edge below; keep well back from the cornice line above the steep east face. The estate road is sometimes ice-glazed beneath an inch of fresh snow.
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