Get Lost Mountaineering

Meall Buidhe from Loch an Daimh off Glen Lyon

Start/Finish

Loch an Daimh dam which is at the end of the road which branches off the main Glen Lyon road about 4 km west of the Bridge of Balgie which can be reached by driving over the high road from Loch Tay. Parking near the dam should not normally be a problem. Note that an alternative route from Killin using the road from upper Glen Lochay to Glen Lyon is no longer fit for cars and is closed off preventing vehicle access from Glen Lochay.

Distance/Time

9 km.      About 4 hours.

Peaks

Meall Buidhe, 932 m, NN 498 499.     OS Sheet 51.

Introduction

This is an easy high moorland mountain which offers fairly quick access and fine views in all directions including the Ben Lawers range, the Glen Lochay hills, the Glen Lyon hills and further. There are at least three different ascent paths from the Loch an Daimh dam. The one described is the least boggy

Route

(1) Walk up the track on the right before the dam (next to an information point). The track soon swings round to follow the loch and passes the dam. On a crest is a small cairn with an obvious path going uphill. Do not take this path as it is very boggy. Instead, continue, descending slightly, for about 2 minutes, to reach another small cairn where a grassy path slants up the hill side. Follow this path. There is a faint section which may be difficult to follow so aim for a perched boulder on a grassy knoll. Beyond the boulder, the path is better defined and much drier than the alternative paths. Continue upwards towards the ridge which runs from the S top of Meall Buidhe to Meall a' Phuill. When a boggy and peaty section is reached, go well to the right to outflank it then walk uphill to reach a path slanting up to the ridge. Reach the ridge (or go Meall a' Phuill first then descend to its W bealach). A short steeper section leads to a cairn at the end of the S ridge. Follow the gentle ridge past more small/medium cairns until a much larger cairn is reached which marks the summit of Meall Buidhe, 932 m.

(2) Return by the route of ascent.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 16^th April, 1995, 11^th August, 2007, and 5^th July, 2012.