📌 Killin, Stirling
★★★
Meall Ghaordaidh (Rounded hill of the shoulder) is probably one of the less popular Munros in the Central Highlands; this sprawling hill looks fairly featureless when climbed direct from Glen Lochay. Above 800 metres the slopes fortunately become a little rockier and more interesting, and the summit boasts a broad western vista taking in both the Lochay and Lyon watersheds. Our route then continues east along the pleasant Cam-Chreag ridge, revealing some of the hill’s more characterful north side. A boggy bealach lies between here and the Corbett of Beinn nan Oighreag (Hill of the cloudberries), but walkers who persevere with the steep, pathless down-and-up are rewarded with decent views of the Ben Lawers range, and an enjoyable descent along the hill’s south shoulder.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Track out of Glen Lochay 
Meall Dhùin Croisg 
Path up lower slopes of Meall Ghaordaidh 
Upper slopes 
View down Glen Lochay from the ascent 
Meall Ghaordaidh summit, looking north to Glen Lyon 
View east to the Ben Lawers range 
View west to Beinn Sheasgarnaich 
View northwest to Loch Lyon 
Cam-Chreag ridge 
View back to Meall Ghaordaidh from Cam-Chreag 
Coire Loaghain 
Beinn nan Oighreag across Lairig Luaidhe 
Looking back up the route of descent from Lairig Luaidhe 
Lairig Luaidhe from the ascent to Beinn nan Oighreag 
Beinn nan Oighreag summit, looking west to Meall Ghaordaidh 
View southeast to the Tarmachan Ridge 
View east to Ben Lawers 
Descending south from Beinn nan Oighreag 
Allt na h-Iolaire 
Meall Dhùin Croisg & old shielings 
Track back to Glen Lochay
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road through Glen Lochay, immediately west of road bridge over Allt Dhùin Croisg, 4 mi northwest of Killin
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 526363
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.495977,-4.395408
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Verge parking
📝 Key info
▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 1190 m | ⌛ 7-8 hr
Features: △ Meall Ghaordaidh (1039m, Munro); △ Beinn nan Oighreag (909m, Corbett)
⬤ Tough | Ascent to Meall Ghaordaidh on track then hill path, boggy in places. Grassy ridge beyond mostly has a faint path, then steep & pathless descent / ascent on grass into / out of Lairig Luaidhe. Descent from Beinn nan Oighreag mostly has a faint path, then joins track for final descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – track leaves road nearby to east – hill path forks left at 🧭 NN 532373 – Meall Ghaordaidh – Cam-Chreag ridge – bealach of Lairig Luaidhe – Beinn nan Oighreag – descend ridge to south – join track at 🧭 NN 536385 – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, buzzard, frogs, pheasants. Ptarmigan feathers! Stoat / weasel in Glen Lochay just before reaching car park.
Weather: Sunny with just a few clouds, moderate east wind. 5°C summit temperature, 16°C at finish.
April 2023
