The weather forecast was not promising but the route to bag both of these Fionas, Meall Reamhar and Meall nan Caorach, from near Amulree in Perthshire, looked straightforward and not too long. I was heading south for a weekend in the Central Belt and wanted a route fairly close to the M9. The outing proved to be the perfect target.
Solo hike of Meall nan Caorach and Meall Reamhar
I parked on the A822 just south of Amulree. There is a wide opening at a farm track with space for a couple of vehicles to park without blocking the road or the track.
Since the weather was fairly woeful, I was the only vehicle there. I saw no one all day.
The first few kilometres of the walk are on a wide Landrover track. It heads north-east from the roadside towards the farm and then tracks south-easterly through moorland.
At this stage I could see very little ahead or to my sides due to very low-lying cloud. It wasn’t raining but the air was wet and I was glad I had on full waterproofs.
The track was never steep and simply undulated upwards. I finally reached a gate in a fence that I had been aiming for.
Having looked at the map earlier, I could see a fence line that lay close to both summits but in opposite directions.
Meall nan Caorach was to the north, while Meall Reamhar was to the south. Both were around 500m in distance and on very steep terrain.
Push up to Meall nan Caorach
I headed first for Meall nan Caorach and pushed uphill close to the fence but weaving my way through a trod in thick heather. It was fairly straightforward, although quite strenuous.
By now I was walking in thick claggy cloud and I was unable to see further than about 50 metres ahead. I am sure the views are lovely but today was not a day for great vistas.
The uphill went in stages of steep, less steep, steep, less steep until I could see a trig pillar ahead. This marked an elevation of 623m. I stopped of a bite to eat and while the air’s moisture content was high, it wasn’t raining nor windy. In fact, it felt quite warm for a December hike.
On to Meall Reamhar
I retraced my steps almost exactly and when I reached the track again I headed uphill towards Meall Reamhar. The gradient seemed steeper and more sustained but overall I think the ascent was similar. I had to divert a short way around a rocky outcrop but, apart from that, it was another straight line close to the fence. The summit was 620m and marked by a large cairn.
I turned around and headed back the way I had come.
Walk back along a track
The return was along the track, which I noticed was extremely wet and running as a stream in places. The track looked like a river in sections. For the second half of the return walk, the clouds started to lift a bit and I could see more of the landscape that I had recently walked through.
I love a clear view and a sunny day but I also enjoy the drama and surprise of a day of low clouds, especially when they start to drift higher or further apart to show off the land below. I was sure there was even a slight hint of the sun trying to break through, although all too quickly it disappeared again.
Back at my van, I realised my gloves, shoes and waterproofs were soaked with the damp air. But only as I drove off to head further south did the rain properly start.
Summary: Meall nan Caorach and Meall Reamhar
Distance: 9.8km
Total ascent: 530m
Moving time: 2 hrs 20 mins
These are two easy summits to reach and I have added them to my list of Fionas, which now sits at 48/219 (21.92%). I will be walking more of these hills over the winter because they provide a challenge but do not take you as high as the Corbetts and Munros so it’s often possible to avoid the worst of the cloud and rain.