Marilyn · North-West Highlands
Meallan Liath
Meallan Liath — the "little grey lump" — rises to 599m on the broad watershed between Loch Choire and Loch Naver in central Sutherland. The NC51 square places it at the heart of the Flow Country, surrounded by lochans and trackless peat.
Gaelic: “little rounded hill, grey” · Pronunciation: meallan lee-ah
Quick facts
- Height
- 599.7m/ 1968ft
- Grid ref
- NC 51457 50360
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
Approach via the Loch Choire estate track from the southeast, then strike northwest across pathless moor to gain the broad grey-stone summit dome. Expect roughly 4-5 hours for the round trip from the road end.
Terrain
Quartzite blockfield caps a long approach over saturated peat. Hags reach chest-deep in places between NC51 and NC52, and there is no continuous line of cairns.
In winter
Inversions trap freezing fog over Loch Naver for days at a time. Snow rarely lies deep here but verglas on the grey stones can be lethal; an axe is sensible from December through March.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow7h 39m
- Edinburgh7h 17m
OS maps: OS Landranger 9, OS Explorer 447N, OS Explorer 447S
Mobile signal: Very poor. No mobile coverage. Loch Shin and surrounding hills block all signals.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:11
- Sunset
- 22:27
- Civil dawn
- 02:52
- Civil dusk
- 23:46
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Meallan Liath on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Meallan Liath — common questions
- How hard is Meallan Liath?
- Meallan Liath is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Quartzite blockfield caps a long approach over saturated peat.
- When is the best time to climb Meallan Liath?
- The standard good-weather months for Meallan Liath 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 Meallan Liath?
- 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 Meallan Liath?
- Very poor. No mobile coverage. Loch Shin and surrounding hills block all signals.
- Is Meallan Liath safe in winter?
- Inversions trap freezing fog over Loch Naver for days at a time. Snow rarely lies deep here but verglas on the grey stones can be lethal; an axe is sensible from December through March.
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