Meall na h-Eilde

Meall na h-Eilde is a hill in the Scottish Highlands, standing between the Great Glen and Glen Garry, 23 kilometres north of Fort William. At 838 metres, it is the 110th highest Corbett and the 336th highest Marilyn. The hill was only recognised as a Corbett in 1981 after a resurvey raised its height above that of nearby Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh. Its name means ‘Hill of the Hinds’ in Scottish Gaelic, referring to the deer that once sheltered in its eastern corrie. The hill has two outlying tops, Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh to the north-west and Meall an Tagraidh to the south-east. A ruined iron fence runs along the skyline ridge, marking the old parish boundary and aiding navigation in poor weather. The hill is linked to history through its outlying top Meall an Tagraidh, where Charles Edward Stuart hid for days after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Supplies of whisky, cheese and bread were brought to the prince by Cameron of Clunes during his stay. The hill’s drainage divide sends southern streams to the Great Glen via Loch Lochy and Loch Linnhe, while northern waters flow via the River Garry to Loch Oich and then east to Inverness. The main ridge runs north for 1.5 kilometres, passing small lochans before descending steeply to Glen Garry. A broader ridge extends south-west for 1.5 kilometres, narrowing sharply to reach the head of Gleann Tarsuinn. Visitors often climb Meall na h-Eilde with nearby Geal Charn, choosing between a northern route from Glen Garry or a shorter southern approach from Loch Arkaig. The southern route starts at the Eas Chia-aig waterfall, following a track through Gleann Cia-aig to open moorland. A footbridge is crossed before a steep climb to the Bealach an Easain, from where the summit is easily reached. The northern approach starts at Greenfield in Glen Garry, taking a path through the forest to the Allt Coire nan Saobhaidh stream and the northern ridge. The summit cairn stands on the northern side of the old fence, offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding hills and glens.