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
- Prominence
- 795 m
- Distance
- ~10.5 km
- Ascent
- ~1093 m
- Time
- 5–7 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN250503
- Parking
- NN267525
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 28km
- 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
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. A direct out-and-back makes a quick half-day. Most parties traverse west to Creise via the connecting ridge for a two-Munro round (around 10.5km with 1090m of ascent).
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 Glencoe 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
- 06:34
- Sunset
- 20:01
- Civil dawn
- 05:55
- Civil dusk
- 20:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 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 Kinlochleven
West Highland Way stop under the Mamores
13km 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?
- We grade Meall a' Bhuiridh at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 10.5km with 1093m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Underfoot: The ski-area access road is firm tarmac.
- What is Meall a' Bhuiridh's prominence?
- 795m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall a' Bhuiridh to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Meall a' Bhuiridh?
- Most walkers start from NN267525. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Meall a' Bhuiridh?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall a' Bhuiridh. 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 a' Bhuiridh 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 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.
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