Wild and worthy Munro mission in hills of the Great Glen
Loch Lochy peaks offer a satisfying challenge
On the north side of Loch Lochy, Meall na Teanga and its near neighbour, the Munro Sron a’ Choire Ghairbh, rise steeply to dominate the area.
The hills are the highest along the length of the Great Glen – the area’s only Munros – and are most often climbed together. Indeed, many simply refer to them as the Loch Lochy Munros.
There are two routes of ascent by which the hills are most commonly climbed. One is from the Forestry Commission car park just east of Loch Arkaig, near the Eas Chia-aig waterfalls. The other is from Kilfinnan, near the head of Loch Lochy.
Having walked both routes, I’d recommend the former. The route from Loch Arkaig follows Gleann Cia-aig, and then a very boggy, rough and trackless section. It makes for slow progress and can be quite tiring – the high bealach between the Munros never seems to get any closer! It is, however, among satisfyingly remote and wild-feeling country. A good route if you want to avoid the crowds.
The return from Meall na Teanga takes you over the Munro’s southern top, Meall Coire Lochain – an ascent that takes you along a lovely narrow ridge with some very minor scrambling. The Kilfinnan route initially follows forestry roads along what is now the Great Glen Way and an excellent path up to the bealach. It makes for much easier and faster going – but the conifer plantations early on in the walk, some of which have been cleared, aren’t as pretty as the wild lands of the route from the west. It’s a quicker and simpler way to the hill – but lacks much of the character of the former.
The views from Meall na Teanga are fantastic – Ben Nevis to the south looks grand, while the narrow ridge of the descent route lures you on.