Meall na h-Eilde
Encyclopedia
Meall na h-Eilde is a Scottish
hill situated in the high ground between the Great Glen
and Glen Garry, 23 km north of Fort William
in the Highland Council Area
.
. The hill has only been included on the list of Corbetts since 1981 when resurveying by the Ordnance Survey
raised its height to 838 metres and above that of the nearby Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh which before that was regarded as the Corbett.
during his flight
following the Battle of Culloden
in mid April 1746. The fugitive prince was supplied with whisky, cheese and bread by Cameron
of Clunes during his stay on the hill. The hills name translates from the Scottish Gaelic as Hill of the Hinds and is so called because the hills steep walled eastern corrie
Coire an Tagraidh gave good shelter from the western gales and was a good place for hinds to protect and rear their young.
. Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh lies a kilometre to the north-west across the Bealach Choire a’ Ghuirein (The Pass of the Corrie of the Pimple) which has a height 722 metres.
The hill is connected to Meall an Tagraidh, an attractive conical hill, by the Bealach an Easain (The Pass of the Little Waterfall) which has an approximate height of 630 metres. A ruined iron fence runs along the skyline ridge between the main summit and these two outliers which formerly marked the old parish boundary and this can be an aid to navigation in poor weather. The hill stands on the main drainage divide of Scotland with its southern flowing streams reaching the Great Glen and going by Loch Lochy
and Loch Linnhe
to reach the west coast. Drainage from its northern slope go via the River Garry to reach the Great Glen at Loch Oich
and then goes eastward via Loch Ness
to reach the sea at Inverness
.
) although the southern approach is shorter and more poplar. The southern route starts at the car park at the Eas Chia-aig waterfall at grid reference and follows a track north through the trees of Gleann Cia-aig to reach open moorland after four km where the hill comes fully into view. A footbridge is crossed and it is a steep climb to the Bealach an Easain from where the summit is easily reached. The northern approach starts at Greenfield in Glen Garry and takes a path south west through the forest for three km to reach the Allt Coire nan Saobhaidh stream from where the northern ridge can be gained which leads to the summit cairn which stands on the northern side of the old fence. The hills considerable prominence of 453 metres gives a good uninterrupted view of the surroundings.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
hill situated in the high ground between the Great Glen
Great Glen
The Great Glen , also known as Glen Albyn or Glen More is a series of glens in Scotland running 100 kilometres from Inverness on the Moray Firth, to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.The Great Glen follows a large geological fault known as the Great Glen Fault...
and Glen Garry, 23 km north of Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
in the Highland Council Area
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
.
Overview
Meall na h-Eilde reaches a height of 838 metres (2749 feet) making it the 110th highest Corbett and the 336th highest MarilynMarilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
. The hill has only been included on the list of Corbetts since 1981 when resurveying by the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
raised its height to 838 metres and above that of the nearby Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh which before that was regarded as the Corbett.
History
The hills outlying top Meall an Tagraidh which lies just over a kilometre south-east of the main summit has some historical interest. This summit was used as a hideout for several days and nights by the fugitive Charles Edward StuartCharles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
during his flight
Charles Edward Stuart's Flight
Charles Edward Louis Philippe Casimir Stuart was born on 20 December 1720. Supported by Jacobite adherents, he attempted to regain the throne of his father, who, according to Jacobite beliefs, was the legitimate successor of James II, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
following the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in mid April 1746. The fugitive prince was supplied with whisky, cheese and bread by Cameron
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands is the mountain Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The chief of the clan is customarily referred to as...
of Clunes during his stay on the hill. The hills name translates from the Scottish Gaelic as Hill of the Hinds and is so called because the hills steep walled eastern corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
Coire an Tagraidh gave good shelter from the western gales and was a good place for hinds to protect and rear their young.
Geography
Meall na h-Eilde has only one distinctive ridge which goes northerly towards Glen Garry, it runs for 1.5 km, passing several small lochans before reaching a shoulder on the ridge known as Gearr Leacann (Short Steep Ridge) (517 metres). From here it descends steeply to the Glen Garry forestry plantation where it broadens out into the valley floor. A broader ridge goes south west for 1.5 km to a spot height at 681 metres where it narrows and steepens considerably to reach the head of Gleann Tarsuinn. Meall na h-Eilde is connected to its two outlying tops Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh and Meall an Tagraidh by high colsMountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
. Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh lies a kilometre to the north-west across the Bealach Choire a’ Ghuirein (The Pass of the Corrie of the Pimple) which has a height 722 metres.
The hill is connected to Meall an Tagraidh, an attractive conical hill, by the Bealach an Easain (The Pass of the Little Waterfall) which has an approximate height of 630 metres. A ruined iron fence runs along the skyline ridge between the main summit and these two outliers which formerly marked the old parish boundary and this can be an aid to navigation in poor weather. The hill stands on the main drainage divide of Scotland with its southern flowing streams reaching the Great Glen and going by Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy is a large freshwater loch in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. With a mean depth of , it is the third deepest loch of Scotland.-Geography:...
and Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
to reach the west coast. Drainage from its northern slope go via the River Garry to reach the Great Glen at Loch Oich
Loch Oich
Loch Oich is a freshwater loch in the Highlands of Scotland which forms part of the Caledonian Canal, of which it is the highest point. This narrow loch lies between Loch Ness and Loch Lochy in the Great Glen...
and then goes eastward via Loch Ness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately southwest of Inverness. Its surface is above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie"...
to reach the sea at Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
Ascents
Meall na h-Eilde is often climbed in conjunction with another Corbett Geal Charn which lies 4 km to the west. Approaches to the hill are possible from the north (Glen Garry) and the south (eastern end of Loch ArkaigLoch Arkaig
Loch Arkaig is a body of water in Lochaber, Scotland, to the west of the Great Glen. It is approximately 12 miles in length and lies 140 feet above sea level, the maximum depth is some 300 feet....
) although the southern approach is shorter and more poplar. The southern route starts at the car park at the Eas Chia-aig waterfall at grid reference and follows a track north through the trees of Gleann Cia-aig to reach open moorland after four km where the hill comes fully into view. A footbridge is crossed and it is a steep climb to the Bealach an Easain from where the summit is easily reached. The northern approach starts at Greenfield in Glen Garry and takes a path south west through the forest for three km to reach the Allt Coire nan Saobhaidh stream from where the northern ridge can be gained which leads to the summit cairn which stands on the northern side of the old fence. The hills considerable prominence of 453 metres gives a good uninterrupted view of the surroundings.