Meall nam Maigheach

The burn beside parking area looking towards Glen Lyon

The weather has been absolutely glorious this week in Perthshire, clear blue skies and heat, what an Indian summer. 
With the great weather still forecast for a few more days I wanted to do a decent hill walk, Carn Liath was suggested, but with Mrs B's fitness we decided it had to be an easier hill. After consulting the Corbett's guidebook I found what I thought was perfect, Meall nam Maigheach 779m (hill of the hare), which sits in the range between Loch Tay & Glen Lyon. The climb should be just over an hour for fit people, principally due to it's very high starting point which means you only climb about 300 metres or so, add on another half hour for Mrs B's pace and it still fitted perfectly for our needs. 

Loch Tay is below the fog

Our drive from Pitlochry started with a heavy mist and by the time we got to Loch Tay it was a full on pea-souper. As we drove along towards the Ben Lawers cut off it was getting even worse, all traffic practically crawling along, what chance a walk today we thought. We were the only car turning here and driving up the very twisty single track, waiting for something to come down out of the fog, head on, was interesting to say the least. And then, wow, we broke the clouds to be greeted by the vivid blue sky we had expected. The drive was now more comfortable as at least you could see if the road ahead was clear, at least until the next blind bend. A few stops to take snaps of the foggy background below and it wasn't long until we reached the parking spot at the start of the walk.

The boggy tract to be crossed with Maigheach beyond

I read a few descriptions of the walk on the internet and knew that it would not be the most exciting I had ever climbed. The traverse from Glen Lyon appears to be the most interesting route but no way Mrs B could do that one.
The guide says to cross the tussocky grass/heather and head for the stone dyke wall which leads all the way almost to the cairn. Certainly helpful if you are doing this one on a poor visibility day. There is no obvious path across this section so we just picked a line and head on. At times the walking was quite boggy, surprising really considering how dry it has been. To avoid the most boggy areas it becomes a zig zag route towards the dyke. The amount of insects coming off the heather as we trod through was incredible. What were the odds on me getting through the walk without my bare legs being bitten?

Looking down the dyke

Once we reached the dyke was a straightforward guide right up the hill so you cannot go wrong. It is not the most outstanding walk but if you stop regularly and look around the views are very good. Up ahead we spotted a pair of red deer hinds looking down at us warily. They start to move gracefully up to the summit, pausing often to look back. The next estate is a deer stalking area so maybe this pair have had previous with humans. They stop on the skyline for one last look down before disappearing over the top for good.
The path was dry beside the dyke so good time was made. There are a few false summits before you reach the top of the wall and the cairn is just off to your right. The guide says not to take the direct route to the cairn because of the boggy ground but today this was not the case and we sauntered across the hard peat to the cairn.

Mrs B walks the last 50 metres

Despite the walk up being fairly ordinary the views more than make up for it absolutely superb in the full 360 degree. The only problem on the top was that the dreaded midge made their appearance, I presume they came from the few stagnant water pools nearby to the trig point. The day was toasting hot so we were sweating and the midges indulged and feasted on us.

The small trig

A few quick photos taken and then we headed back down the dyke this time not going cross country but following it all the way to the road and then walking back uphill to the car. Some people might want to omit the initial boggy stuff and just start here.

Meall nam Maigheach

A short walk which for fitter walkers which will probably be lengthened to include taking in at least one more hill but for us it was enough today and most enjoyable in the unseasonable heat. Despite it's name we didn't see any hares and indeed apart from the deer and sheep precious little wildlife on show.
Mrs B felt that she had earned her cream scone tea from the Bridge of Balgie tearoom which is only a short drive away, I fully empathised.