Meal Chuaich

Mike Taylor

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Meall Chuaich is an isolated peak sitting just north of the Perthshire / Highland county boundary on the watershed between Atholl to the south and Badenoch to the north. It has panoramic views north over Badenoch to the Cairngorms, west to Creag Meagaidh, south-west to the Drumochter Hills and down Loch Ericht to Ben Alder. The walk in from the A9 is along a flat, unmade service road running alongside an aquaduct as far as Cuaich Hydro Station and then rising gently to reach Loch Cuaich. This section should take about an hour. From the loch a steep climb over heather, grass and rocks leads to the summit of Meall Chuaich. There is an easily followed path for most of the climb except for the section through the boulder-field near the summit. The summit is a grass-covered dome with a large cylindrical cairn. The return route retraces the outward route.

Cuaich Power Station is part of the Tummel Valley Hydro Scheme. After leaving Cuaich the water is taken by the aquaduct under the A9 to Loch Ericht, from where it passes through four more hydro stations before escaping at Pitlochry and eventually joining the River Tay.

Scotland - Highlands and Islands - Highland - Drumochter