The Mamlorn Hills: Meall Ghaordie (93)

Walk date: 02/11/08
My Munro #'s: 166

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Myowl girday - possibly rounded hill of the shoulder, arm, hand - 1039m

Statistics:
Duration - 11:45 - 16:45
Distance - 7.5 km
Total ascent - 871m
Weather - perfect; cold with blue skies and almost absent wind.
Team - Sonia and Steve W.
Other hikers: several.

Thanks to a last-minute phonecall from Steve, an expected domestic Sunday turned into a gorgeous Munro-bagging sojourn to the Mamlorn Hills. Tempted by a rare early-November good weather prediction, our happy trio set off to a three-way mutually unvisited peak near the village of Killin some three hours away from Aberdeen.

The good weather held as we made our approach to Glen Lochay and we set off in cold air but with a perfectly blue sky and fine winter sun. The going however was for the most part incredibly boring as we made our slow way over pathless, bracken-clad grassland.

Eventually, this terrain gave way to a fine rocky top. Having seen plenty of snow on neighbouring hills we hoped that today's summit would have also caught some and we were not disappointed; after a dull start Meall Ghaordie came good with amazing views across Glen Lyon to Ben Nevis and Glencoe, and also to the Alder group, the Lawers group, Ben Vorlich, and Ben More and Stob Binnein, all while standing on gorgeous soft white snow.

The view was so good that we stayed there for quite some time, enjoying a much needed but essentially cold lunch. Every second worthwhile, one of the best hikes of the year!!

Target in focus, starting those grassy slopes:

The more interesting top comes into view:

Plodding on through the snow:

Steve and Sonia gaining some height:

Glen Lyon looking good:

Ben Nevis in the centre:

The summit was not a place to stay overnight:

Ben More and Stob Binnein to the south:

Sonia kicks off the descent:

The Lawers group in the late afternoon sun:

Well, come on. It's this way!

More Ben More:

The sunset on the Lawers group: