Hill: Meall na Meoig (of Beinn Pharlagain)
Date: Sunday 12th April 2009
Company: Myself and Beinn
Time: 4hrs 40mins
Dog friendly: Yes
I wasn’t planning to do a hill yesterday but the weather looked so good when I woke up, I quickly packed a rucksack and headed off with Beinn. We arrived at the starting point for Meall na Meoig of Beinn Pharlagain just after 12:00 noon. There is room for 12 cars on the grass verge at the starting point for Meall na Meoig. There were already 12 cars parked there so we parked in a small car park a few hundred metres further down the road towards Rannoch Station. The starting point for Meall na Meoig is also the starting point for the Road to the Isles.
Starting point (Right of way to Fort William):
A good track is followed for the first 3km as far as the bridge over the Allt Eigheach. The railway line near Rannoch Station is visible from the track.
Train approaching Rannoch Station:
Sron Leach’d a’ Chaorainn of Carn Dearg (left) & Beinn Pharlagain (right):
We stuck to the right-bank of the Allt Eigheach and soon started the ascent of Leacann nan Giomach of Beinn Pharlagain. The ascent is nice and easy up grassy slopes.
Schiehallion pyramid:
Looking back across Rannoch Moor/Forest:
Lochan Sron Smeur:
I met two others during the ascent one also heading for the Corbett and another descending Beinn Pharlagain having completed the horseshoe circuit including the Munros Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre.
Schiehallion and Loch Rannoch:
Looking up Beinn Pharlagain:
Ridge leading to Carn Dearg:
During the ascent the views across to the Nevis range, Glen Coe hills, Black Mount hills get better and better.
Distant Ben Nevis and Aonachs:
Distant Buachailles:
On reaching 700m the going becomes much less steep. From here you just make your way between the various tops leading out to Meall na Meoig.
Beinn Pharlagain from 700m:
Beinn Pharlagain summit (807m), Meall na Meoig (868m) in distance:
At Garbh Meall Mor (838m):
Rolling in the snow:
Lochan Meoigeach below summit of Meall na Meoig:
We reached the summit 2hrs 30mins from the start.
Beinn at summit of Meall na Meoig:
Looking back to Beinn Pharlagain from Meall na Meoig
We descended directly from Meall na Meoig to reach the Allt Eigheach (at a height of around 520m). The descent to here is superb – down gentle grass slopes. We then crossed the Allt Eigheach and followed the path for several kilometres back down the glen. The path improves significantly on reaching the junction with the Road to the Isles. We soon crossed the bridge over the Allt Eigheach and walked the final 3km back out to the car.
Beinn on bridge over Allt Eigheach:
