Meall Greigh

Meall Greigh, at 1,001 metres, is a rather sprawling and shapeless Munro, but its slightly detached position at the eastern end of the Ben Lawers range makes it an extensive viewpoint and the natural starting point for a fine circuit of the corrie holding Lochan nan Cat.

The route starts from the walkers' car park just east of the Lawers Hotel on the A827, with a small charge payable, or by arrangement to return for a meal. The walk heads carefully east along the main road for half a kilometre, passing a horn-carving workshop before turning onto a track signed for Machuim Farm, following a path through woods and onto open moor above the Lawers Burn gully. From a small cairn where the path drops into the gully, the route heads north across open moor, climbing the minor top of Sròn Mhòr on vague, intermittent paths before continuing to Meall Greigh's cairned summit — most eyes are immediately drawn west along the broad ridge ahead to Meall Garbh, backed by the steep profile of An Stùc and massive Ben Lawers beyond, with tiny Lochan nan Cat cradled in front of them.

From the summit, the ridge descends — more moorland than ridge at this point — with a fenceline joining from the right, down to the boggy bealach of Lairig Innein, from where most walkers continue on to Meall Garbh and beyond.

The full circuit taking in all three eastern Lawers Munros (Meall Greigh, Meall Garbh, and An Stùc) is around 17 kilometres, typically six to eight hours depending on conditions and whether Ben Lawers itself is added to the round.

The lower approach paths are often muddy and waterlogged, and the return leg — particularly around Lochan nan Cat if descending that way — can become a relentless bog; this should be treated as a full, serious mountain day rather than a casual walk, especially once the technical ground of An Stùc is factored in.

The Ben Lawers Hotel car park is chargeable; there is no other public transport directly to the start.