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Home   Glossary

Meall Dearg

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
953 m (3126 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN16135835
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
212 of 283 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Red Hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  41   Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh are two Munros separated by a narrow rocky and exposed ridge known as the Aonach Eagagh (Notched ridge). As there is no safe way off the ridge between these peaks they are usually climbed together.

The normal ascent of the Aonach Eagach is to the col between Am Bodach and Sron Garbh to the E. The scrambling is scary rather than technically difficult, but do not attempt this peak unless your are comfortable with scrambling in exposed locations.

Meall Dearg can be ascended without traversing the ridge via its NW facing ridge - an easy route, but the return will be by the same route.

Hazards you may encounter on Meall Dearg include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 Narrow Ridges, with exposure.
 Scrambling (major), greater exposure and steeper rock.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Meall Dearg

Descent of this 20 metre wall, just to the West of Am Bodach, is the first obstacle of the traverse of Aonach Eagach.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown

View loooking west along Aonach Eagach from Am Bodach (Meall Dearg on the right) - 1st June 2008

© Lynda Langlands
Image by Lynda Langlands

Meall Dearg 13th April 2009.

© Andrea & Jim Loudon
Image by Andrea & Jim Loudon

Negotiating a section of the notched ridge in misty weather.

© Donny McKie
Image by Donny McKie
View All 30 Images for Meall Dearg

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Glencoe
by Accuweather 		West Highlands
by Met Office 		Bidean nan Bian
by Metcheck
Meall Dearg Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
Results by distance from Meall Dearg
7.8 km
STRATHASSYNT GUEST HOUSE
Loanfern, Ballachulish, NR. Glencoe, Highlands.
14.6 km
Birchbrae Luxury Self Catering Lodges
Birchbrae, Onich, Fort William
16.3 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
16.5 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
16.8 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
21.0 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
24.0 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
24.3 km
Inverour Guest House
Roybridge Road, Spean Bridge
25.2 km
Dunhafen Bed and Breakfast
Glenspean Park, Roy Bridge, Inverness-Shire
28.4 km
Arichastlich (self catering)
The Old House, Arichastlich, Glen Orchy, Argyll
29.3 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
29.4 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
32.6 km
Glengarry House
Tyndrum
35.0 km
Aros Beag
Tyndrum
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Meall Dearg.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Meall Dearg
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1295 m 11.39 km 4.5 hrs Sgorr nam Fiannaidh and Meall Dearg  The Aonach Eagach (notched ridge) is Scotland's classic ridge walk. It is a difficult route requiring scrambling skills and an ability to cope with exposure.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Meall Dearg

  Baggers Gallery for Meall Dearg

Me and Tam at the summit of Meall Dearg, 8 August 2009.

© Michael Hill
Image by Michael Hill

Me (Jo Duncan) on summit of Sgorr nam Fiannaidh with hubby Ross, and pals Rich and Katherine

© Jo Duncan
Image by Jo Duncan

Me (Martin Forbes) at the summit of Meall Dearg with fellow climbers Kevin McKeown, Michael Kerrigan, Pete Swales and Julie Cavanagh in the background. Climbed the ridge on the 27/06/2009

© Martin Forbes
Image by Martin Forbes

The MM Aonach Eagach 49th & 50th trek

© Pete Swales
Image by Pete Swales
View All 22 Baggers Images for Meall Dearg
The logging section stores any entries for Meall Dearg in your own log. From here you can
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  Logging
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Recently Climbed By
James Hamlyn on 17 Oct 2009
Lesley Punton on 17 Oct 2009
Barry Cross on 14 Oct 2009
Robert Christine on 11 Oct 2009
Michael Schouten on 10 Oct 2009
Chris Bowles on 04 Oct 2009
Douglas Robertson on 04 Oct 2009
Peter Sinclair on 04 Oct 2009
Kevin Whyte on 04 Oct 2009
Iain Mitchell on 01 Oct 2009
Stephen Burnhill on 26 Sep 2009
Janice Wallace on 26 Sep 2009
Fiona Stewart on 20 Sep 2009
Keith Scott on 17 Sep 2009
Martin Gibb on 14 Sep 2009
Alan McIntyre on 14 Sep 2009
Graham Ellis on 13 Sep 2009
Drew Laurie on 11 Aug 2009
Michael Hill on 08 Aug 2009
Alister Richmond on 26 Jul 2009
Colin Mcneil on 25 Jul 2009
Tom Slater on 25 Jul 2009
Jo Duncan on 11 Jul 2009
Gordon Smith on 05 Jul 2009
Andy Clark on 29 Jun 2009
mackenzie barker on 27 Jun 2009
Michael Coffield on 27 Jun 2009
Martin Forbes on 27 Jun 2009
Michael Kerrigan on 27 Jun 2009
Kevin Mckeown on 27 Jun 2009
Pete Swales on 27 Jun 2009
Ronnie Auld on 14 Jun 2009
Robert Carr on 14 Jun 2009
Michael Kerrigan on 14 Jun 2009
libby Lyle on 14 Jun 2009
Samantha Munro on 14 Jun 2009
Stephen Ralph on 14 Jun 2009
Sarah Holroyd on 07 Jun 2009
Jon Stockton on 07 Jun 2009
Alasdair Cairns on 04 Jun 2009
Clint Brimstone on 03 Jun 2009
Allan Donald on 02 Jun 2009
James Roddie on 01 Jun 2009
Jon Stockton on 31 May 2009
Corrie & alex Boyd on 30 May 2009
Alan Ross on 22 May 2009
Ian Finnie on 17 May 2009
Wendy Moore on 17 May 2009
Margaret Smollett on 28 Apr 2009
Brian Corrigan on 18 Apr 2009
Stewart Dickson on 18 Apr 2009
Richard Reid on 18 Apr 2009
James Seaman on 18 Apr 2009
John Vinson on 18 Apr 2009
John Mc gonagle on 12 Apr 2009
Alexander Srachan on 05 Apr 2009
Archie Mcwatt on 09 Mar 2009

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

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 Shared Members Track Logs
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Post a few words about Meall Dearg or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 9 comments. Would you like to view all 9?
James Corrigan
wrote on
November 23, 2009
Crossed this magnificent ridge twice.First time in glorious conditions Sep` 2008.It was crowded and you had to form a line to cross.Sept 2009 saw us do it in rotten weather but hey, we had the entire ridge to ourselves.
Robert Christine
wrote on
October 14, 2009
Aonach Eagach Ridge route. Exciting,challenging day .Not one for the inexperienced unless you have a good head for heights and can cope with extreme exposure at times. Some places where rock was slippery made one really focus . Let's be honest here . Any failure to successfully execute the task immediately to hand can result in disastrous consequences. Found the descent from Am Bodach more challenging than anywhere else on the ridge. Getting too old for this kind of climbing and scrambling . Should have done it 40 years ago.
Keith Scott
wrote on
September 21, 2009
WOW!!! What an amazing route along the Aonach Eagach ridge. The sun was out and it was hot. The views were tremendous and fully 360 degrees. The ridge was easily negotiated but can fully understand how it can be very hairy in poor weather. As the day progressed some cloud appeared below us on the northern side and we were treated to the phenomenon that is "brocken spectre"!!!!
libby Lyle
wrote on
June 15, 2009
Well after much talk about it we headed up to the ridge yesterday. Luckily with a group of guys who had been there and done it (albeit they had forgotten about how tricky it really is)! The day was tremendously exhilirating, I grew confidence as I learned alot about 'good holds' as I'm totally inexpreienced and had no idea what I was in for. My body shook with fear in some parts but was thrilled with the sense of achievement. I'v never scrambled before or any rock climing so really happy that not once did I hesitate and want to go back (you can't anyway)!! Best day ever and been smiling since
Gordon Green
wrote on
May 29, 2008
This is a fun route. Last Sunday the weather was perfect and, having hitched a lift from the Red Squirrel campsite, I was one of the first up. What a superb day I had. The descent from Am Bodach is a wake up call - it certainly focusses the mind for what's in store. And, what the Crazy Pinnacles offer is 100% top notch scrambling. It is essential to keep to the main route, rather than try to skirt round (not that I would have dared to try this). The one pinnacle where there seems no way up has a key move that only becomes obvious once you commit to go up. That's fun.
 
 

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