Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Meall a' Bhuiridh
Meall a' Bhuiridh — the Gaelic name evokes the roaring of red deer in the autumn rut — is the 1108m Munro that hosts the Glencoe Mountain ski area on its north-east flank, rising directly above Rannoch Moor at the eastern entrance to Glen Coe. The summit is a rocky outcrop on a broad plateau with one of the most extensive views in the Highlands: the full length of Rannoch Moor east, the Black Mount ridge south, and the Glen Coe peaks west. Often paired with Creise via the high south ridge.
Gaelic: “rounded hill, of the, roaring” · Pronunciation: myowl uh bhuiridh
Quick facts
- Height
- 1107.9m/ 3635ft
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 975 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN250503
- Parking
- NN267525
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
Ski area path 40% · Open hillside 35% · Summit / ridge to Creise 25%
The standard line is from the Glencoe Mountain ski centre off the A82. Climb the east ridge — directly up the ski piste in summer when the lifts are not running — to gain the summit. Around 9km return with 800m of ascent for a quick day. Most parties traverse west to Creise via the connecting ridge for a two-Munro round (18km with 975m of ascent in the database figures).
Terrain
The ski-area access road is firm tarmac. In summer the ski piste lines give clear ground to the upper plateau; the path is informal in places. The summit area is broad rocky plateau with the cairn on a small outcrop. The connecting ridge to Creise is grass and rock with one short steep section onto Creise.
In winter
A working ski hill; the ski area runs Glencoe Mountain Resort. In and out of ski season the upper slopes hold significant snow and avalanche risk on the off-piste corries. Cornicing on the north-east edges. The A82 is gritted and reliable. SAIS Glencoe applies. Skiers and walkers share the slopes — be aware of fast piste traffic.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 57m
- Edinburgh3h 41m
OS maps: OS Landranger 41
Mobile signal: Good signal at the Glencoe Mountain ski area. Signal drops above 800m.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:32
- Sunset
- 22:05
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 23:07
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall a' Bhuiridh.
Around Meall a' Bhuiridh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Bridge of Orchy station
Black Mount; Beinn Dorain, Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair, Beinn a Chreachain
12km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Fort William
Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber
28km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics
29km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall a' Bhuiridh — common questions
- How hard is Meall a' Bhuiridh?
- Meall a' Bhuiridh is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 975m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: The ski-area access road is firm tarmac.
- Where do I park for Meall a' Bhuiridh?
- Standard parking is at NN267525 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 a' Bhuiridh?
- The standard good-weather months for Meall a' Bhuiridh are 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 a' Bhuiridh?
- 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 a' Bhuiridh?
- Good signal at the Glencoe Mountain ski area. Signal drops above 800m.
- Is Meall a' Bhuiridh safe in winter?
- A working ski hill; the ski area runs Glencoe Mountain Resort. In and out of ski season the upper slopes hold significant snow and avalanche risk on the off-piste corries. Cornicing on the north-east edges. The A82 is gritted and reliable. SAIS Glencoe applies. Skiers and walkers share the slopes — be aware of fast piste traffic.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.