Overview
- Meall Corranaich - Munro - Rounded Hill of Lament - 1069m elevation
- Meall a’Choire Leith - Munro - Rounded Hill of The Gray Corrie - 926m elevation
Elevation Profile
Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith are a cracking pair of munros that sit just to the west of Ben Lawers in the Breadalbane range. They’re somewhat overshadowed by their more famous neighbour, but that works in your favour — we had the mountains almost entirely to ourselves on the day we tackled them.
These were Munros 35 and 36 for us and marked a return to the Ben Lawers range where we’d bagged our 7th and 8th munros a few years earlier. It felt good to be back in familiar territory, though the route up these two is quite different to the Lawers ascent.
Route Overview
Getting There and Parking
The starting point for this hike is the same Ben Lawers Nature Reserve car park on the minor road between Loch Tay and Glen Lyon. Parking charges apply and it’s the same car park used by those heading up Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, so arriving early is a good idea.
From the car park, instead of heading north towards Lawers, you head west — which immediately makes the route feel quieter and more remote.
Stage 1 - Meall Corranaich
The path starts off fairly well-defined as you head across the hillside towards the south-east ridge of Meall Corranaich. The initial section crosses some boggy ground, so waterproof boots are a must.
As you begin the ascent, the gradient is steady rather than brutal. It’s a long, sustained climb up grassy slopes with the terrain becoming stonier as you gain height. The ridge narrows slightly towards the top but nothing that requires any scrambling.
The summit of Meall Corranaich sits at 1,069m and offers superb views across to Ben Lawers and out over Glen Lyon. The “Rounded Hill of Lament” — as its name translates — is actually a pleasant summit with a modest cairn and a real feeling of being tucked away from the crowds.
Stage 2 - The Bealach and Meall a’Choire Leith
From Meall Corranaich, you descend north-west into the bealach between the two peaks. The drop isn’t too severe — maybe 200m or so — and the ground is grassy and relatively easy going.
The climb up Meall a’Choire Leith from the bealach is the shortest section of the day. At 926m, it’s the lower of the two peaks and the ascent from the col is quick and direct. The summit is broad and rounded — “The Rounded Hill of The Gray Corrie” lives up to its name — and can be a bit tricky to find the high point in poor visibility.
The views from the top look out over Glen Lyon to the north and back towards the Ben Lawers range. On a clear day it’s a beautiful spot and the quietness compared to the main Lawers path is noticeable.
The Descent
We opted to retrace our steps back over Meall Corranaich and down to the car park. The descent is straightforward and the views over Loch Tay on the way down are gorgeous — especially later in the afternoon when the light starts to soften.
Our total moving time came in at just under 4 hours which makes this one of the shorter days we’ve had in the mountains. The 795m of ascent is very manageable and the 11.25km distance means you’re not going to be crawling back to the car.
Conclusion
Meall Corranaich and Meall a’Choire Leith are an excellent pair of munros for a shorter day out. They lack the drama of some of the bigger peaks, but the quietness, the views, and the straightforward navigation make them a really enjoyable outing. If you’ve already done Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, coming back to the same car park to tick these two off is a no-brainer.
These would also make a solid choice for winter, as the terrain is relatively gentle and the approach is short. Just be aware that the grassy slopes can be slippery when wet or icy and the broad summits can make navigation tricky in clag — bring a map and compass as well as your GPS.
