Munro · Fife & Perthshire
Meall na Aighean
Meall na Aighean (982m) — also known as Creag Mhòr in some lists — is the easternmost Munro of the Càrn Mairg group on the north side of Glen Lyon, the four-Munro chain often climbed as a horseshoe round from Invervar. The hill is the southernmost and least dramatic of the four, but its position gives perhaps the best southward views across Glen Lyon and Loch Rannoch towards the Mamores and Ben Nevis.
Quick facts
- Height
- 982.1m/ 3222ft
- Prominence
- 136 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 864 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN694496
- Parking
- NN666483
- Nearest city
- Perth· 50km
- 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
Glen approach 25% · Open hillside 45% · Summit 30%
See Càrn Mairg for the standard full four-Munro Invervar horseshoe. Meall na Aighean is the last summit reached on the standard clockwise traverse — climbed via the connecting ridge from Càrn Mairg over a deep bealach. Descent is down the long south ridge directly to Invervar. As a single Munro, the south ridge gives a direct ascent of around 7km return with 850m of climb.
Terrain
The Invervar Burn track is firm peat. Meall na Aighean's south ridge is open hillside on grass and heather, pathless until higher up. The summit forms a small rocky outcrop on a broad upland top. The connecting ridge west to Càrn Mairg involves a deep peat-hagged bealach — slow underfoot. The Glen Lyon road is narrow single-track.
In winter
A reasonably benign Càrn Mairg group winter day. Broad mossy summits gather wind-blown snow but offer few avalanche-prone slopes. The deep bealach connecting to Càrn Mairg drifts heavily. The Glen Lyon road can drift closed in heavy snow. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator. Phone reception in the glen is reasonable; absent on the tops.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 48m
- Edinburgh2h 0m
OS maps: OS Landranger 51
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Invervar. Signal thins beyond 800m. Get maps saved before starting out.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:06
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall na Aighean.
Around Meall na Aighean 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
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
16km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy — heart of Dewar's blends; honey-and-heather Highland style
16km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Meall na Aighean — common questions
- How hard is Meall na Aighean?
- We grade Meall na Aighean at 4/5, which puts it in challenging territory. The usual route is around 17km with 864m of climbing; allow 5-8 hours. Underfoot: The Invervar Burn track is firm peat.
- What is Meall na Aighean's prominence?
- 136m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall na Aighean to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Meall na Aighean?
- Most walkers start from NN666483. 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 na Aighean?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall na Aighean. 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 na Aighean 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 na Aighean?
- Reasonable signal at Invervar. Signal thins beyond 800m. Get maps saved before starting out.
- Is Meall na Aighean safe in winter?
- A reasonably benign Càrn Mairg group winter day. Broad mossy summits gather wind-blown snow but offer few avalanche-prone slopes. The deep bealach connecting to Càrn Mairg drifts heavily. The Glen Lyon road can drift closed in heavy snow. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator. Phone reception in the glen is reasonable; absent on the tops.
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