What difficulty is Meall na Teanga?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall na Teanga comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 1200m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The canal-side and forestry approach gives fast firm walking.

What is Meall na Teanga's prominence?

306m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall na Teanga to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Meall na Teanga?

Most walkers start from NN278958. 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 Teanga?

May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall na Teanga. 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 Teanga dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Graham Ellis / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber

Meall na Teanga

Meall na Teanga (917m) — "rounded hill of the tongue" — sits on the steep north-west wall of the Great Glen, looking down over the length of Loch Lochy from one of the highest points in this corner of Lochaber. It is paired with Sron a' Choire Ghairbh on the standard horseshoe round. The summit is a small grassy dome with a rocky cairn looking south to Ben Nevis.

Quick facts

Height: 916.8m/ 3008ft
Prominence: 306 m
Distance: ~16 km
Ascent: ~1200 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN220924
Parking: NN278958
Nearest city: Fort William· 22km
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

Track from Loch Lochy 30% · Open hillside 45% · Summit ridge 25%

16km · 1200m ascent · 5.2 hrs

Park at Kilfinnan north of Loch Lochy and walk in along the canal-side track for 5km to the foot of the Cam Bealach. Climb the steep restored stalkers' path onto the high bealach between the two Munros, then turn south up the steep grass nose of Meall na Teanga. Most parties also take in Sron a' Choire Ghairbh from the same bealach. Around 16km return with some 1200m of climb for the pair.

Terrain

The canal-side and forestry approach gives fast firm walking. The Cam Bealach stalkers' path is well-built but steep with loose sections in places. Above the bealach the climb to Meall na Teanga is steep grass and broken rock; the summit dome is a short bouldery ridge.

In winter

A serious Lochaber winter day. The Cam Bealach corries hold wind-loaded slab on north-east aspects after south-westerly storms. The Kilfinnan road is single-track and ungritted; daylight requires an early start. The steep grass slopes ice readily — axe and crampons essential.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Meall na Teanga. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS West Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow3h 49m
Edinburgh3h 1m

Parking: NN278958

OS maps: OS Landranger 34

Mobile signal: Barely anything above 700m. The Great Glen has occasional signal near the canal. Fetch maps before starting out.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 48mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:34
Sunset: 20:02
Civil dawn: 05:54
Civil dusk: 20:42

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Meall na Teanga.

Two-hill day
Meall na Teanga + Sron a' Choire Ghairbh
Meall na Teanga and Sron a' Choire Ghairbh from Loch Lochy — the Great Glen horseshoe.
16km · 1200m ascent · 7 hrs

On a long-distance route

Meall na Teanga sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.

Great Glen Way2.6km

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Around Meall na Teanga on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Roy Bridge station

Glen Roy; Grey Corries (Stob Choire Claurigh, Sgurr Choinnich Mor)

12km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Fort William

Ben Nevis base, West Highland Line, gateway to Lochaber

22km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Ben Nevis Distillery

Fort William — Lochaber distillery at the foot of the Ben; long-aged Japanese-owned classics

19km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Meall na Teanga — common questions

What difficulty is Meall na Teanga?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Meall na Teanga comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 1200m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The canal-side and forestry approach gives fast firm walking.
What is Meall na Teanga's prominence?: 306m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Meall na Teanga to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Meall na Teanga?: Most walkers start from NN278958. 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 Teanga?: May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Meall na Teanga. 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 Teanga 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 Teanga?: Barely anything above 700m. The Great Glen has occasional signal near the canal. Fetch maps before starting out.
Is Meall na Teanga safe in winter?: A serious Lochaber winter day. The Cam Bealach corries hold wind-loaded slab on north-east aspects after south-westerly storms. The Kilfinnan road is single-track and ungritted; daylight requires an early start. The steep grass slopes ice readily — axe and crampons essential.

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