Meall Ghaordaidh

Meall Ghaordaidh, at 1,039 metres and sometimes shown on maps as Meall Ghaordie, is one of the less distinguished Munros when approached from Glen Lochay, appearing as a fairly featureless grassy lump — though it looks considerably finer from Glen Lyon to the north, where it's supported by two rocky buttresses.

The route starts from a small layby a short distance past Duncroisk Farm on the Glen Lochay road from Killin, with space for a limited number of cars. The walk heads back towards a bridge before turning through a gate signed for the hill, following a rough track through fields past fine ash trees, fading to a faint grassy trod higher up — bearing right if in doubt. A locked gate in a drystone wall is passed via a ladder stile just to the right, with the track continuing uphill alongside the pretty wooded ravine of the Allt Dhuin Croisg. A small cairn and pole mark where the track is left for an initially faint path, climbing a broad grassy shoulder that eases around 600 metres before steepening again through peat hags — potentially very boggy in wet conditions — with views opening up towards the distant, pyramid-like profile of Ben Challum. The final push crosses a patch of white quartzite to the summit trig point, encircled by a stone wind shelter, with fine views north-west over the head of Glen Lyon.

Most walkers return by the same route, though fitter parties sometimes extend along the Cam Chreag ridge to take in the neighbouring Corbett, Beinn nan Oighreag, despite a notably steep descent and reascent from the intervening bealach.

The straightforward out-and-back route from Duncroisk is around 9-9.5 kilometres with roughly 895 metres of ascent, typically three to four hours — genuinely one of the quicker and more approachable Munro days, well suited to shorter winter daylight hours.

Despite its reputation as one of the easier Munros, the peat hags near the summit become genuinely boggy after rain, and the broad, largely featureless upper slopes still demand basic navigation awareness in poor visibility.

Parking at Duncroisk is very limited, with additional space near the bridge over Allt Dhuin Croisg; there is no public transport to the start.