Arkle and Meall Horn Route Information

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Arkle & Meall Horn

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1439 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

7 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

21.64 km

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

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A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Arkle has a narrow ridge with one awkward section requiring a good head for heigths. Novices should not attempt this route in wet, snowy or icy conditions. We have added Meall Horn to this route as you can reach it without dropping below 400m.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Lairg

From Lairg, head N on A836 turning NW on A838 along the N shore of Loch Shin. Continue past Loch Merkland to Achray at the NW end of Loch More. Continue NE to start of track to Airdachuilinn 750m N of Achfary

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,439 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 21.64 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start on track 750m N of Achfary
		NC29644022	Distance	Altitude 38 m

1	Follow track NNE to Lone and cross river
		NC30904216	Distance 2.84 km	Altitude 38 m

2	Continue NE on path
		NC31774289	Distance 1.21 km	Altitude 165 m

3	Ascend N to Meall Aonghais
		NC31964447	Distance 1.61 km	Altitude 581 m

4	Continue ascent NW to Arkle S top (758m)
		NC30984532	Distance 1.30 km	Altitude 758 m

5	Head WNW on ridge curving round corrie
		NC30504543	Distance 0.48 km	Altitude 727 m

6	Continue NW on ridge curving round corrie
		NC30224563	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 725 m

7	Continue NNW on ridge curving round corrie
		NC30164597	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 772 m

8	Ascend NNE to summit of Arkle
		NC30274619	Distance 0.23 km	Altitude 787 m

9	Return along ridge to 758 top and Descend to Meall Aonghais (581m)
		NC31964448	Distance 2.72 km	Altitude 581 m

10	If you still have legs for another hill, head E past Lochan na Fabileige to reach path at broad bealach
		NC33584491	Distance 1.68 km	Altitude 405 m

11	Bear E then NE to col
		NC34754537	Distance 1.26 km	Altitude 675 m

12	Ascend SE to summit of Meall Horn
		NC35254490	Distance 0.70 km	Altitude 777 m

13	Return to path at Bealach and descend SW on path into Glen Horn
		NC32884360	Distance 1.50 km	Altitude 256 m

14	Continue SW to rejoin approach route back to start
		NC29644022	Distance 5.40 km	Altitude 38 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Ben Hope
by Metcheck

Images of Arkle & Meall Horn

Arkle viewed from Meall Horn (April 2011).

Image by Graham Gaw

Arkle viewed across Loch Stack. Meall Horn is visible beyond on the right, with Lone bothy directly below Meall Horn.

Image by David S Brown

Arkle from the Foinaven ridge; 18th June 2007.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

Meall Horn as viewed from the stalker's path along the Allt Horn to the SW.

Image by Graham Gaw

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

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

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

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Written by Chris Bowles on 23 Mar 2009:

The route over Arkle & Meall Horn is a good one. The intial part to Lone is along a track that could be cycled saving time at both ends. Climbed Arkle first, climbing NE up fairly gradual slopes directly to the .758m top, there is a good path marked by a cairn for the intial part of this ascent. The ridge of Arkle is not difficult and care is needed at only one spot. The route to Meall Horn drops down to the track leading to the Bealach Horn then up very steep slopes at 445450. This took us direcly to the summit, added the Graham Sabhal Beag but the route time is realistic for the Corbetts.

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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