Some Mountains, Hills and Summits of Great Britain

These pages feature some of the many mountains, hills, fells, summits and high points in Britain. The criteria for inclusion are that (1) I've climbed the hill in question, and (2) that I've taken a photo at the summit. Wherever possible there is also a picture of the hill from a neighbouring summit or adjacent valley, or a picture of the view from the top.

See the home page for an explanation of the status terms (Munro, Corbett, Marylin, Hewitt, et al).

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Mam Tor

Location: Peak District, Derbyshire
Grid Ref: SK 127836
Height: 1695 ft (517 m)
Status: Dewey

Notes: Mam Tor is a magnet to visitors to the Derbyshire village of Castleton, from where it can be climbed in around 50 minutes. The highest point of the ridge between Castleton and Edale, it's a favourite spot for hang-gliding. The south face features bedding planes of gritstone and shale, and is remarkably steep. The best approaches are via the col of Hollins Cross to the east, or via Mam Nick to the west. Mam Tor is also known as the Shivering Mountain, on account of the occasional landslips on its southern face.




Maol Chinn-dearg

Location: Scottish Highlands, Kintail
Grid Ref: NH 032087
Height: 3218 ft (981 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo

Notes: The fourth of the seven Munros of the South Kintail ridge. 2km and about an hour's walk from Aonach air Chrith. The east ridge is complex with a couple of shapely minor tops, which can be bypassed. The summit stands at the apex of a bend in the ridge, and it gives splendid views along both aspects of Glen Shiel and the mountains either side. To the south, Loch Quoich and the surrounding hills are well seen, and there's also an inviting view into the remote Knoydart area. If you're not continuing along the main ridge, a good path all the way down the north ridge will get you back down to Glen Shiel only 2km from the Cluanie Inn.



May Hill

Location: Forest of Dean
Grid Ref: SO 695212
Height: 971 ft (296 m)
Status: Marilyn

Notes: May Hill is the highest point of the Forest of Dean, an area of wooded hills situated in the west of Gloucestershire and eastern Monmouthshire. The hill's flat summit is home to a copse of trees planted to mark Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, and the trig pillar marking the highest point stands just outside the trees to the southeast. The hill stands above May Hill Village from where it is best ascended; the nearest public transport node is the bus stop at Dursley Cross on the nearby A40. To the east and southeast the Cotswolds are displayed broadside-on across the Severn vale, and the Severn's meanders are seen to the south, beyond which Somerset is visible. To the west the view extends into south Wales and includes the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. The Malvern hills can be seen almost end-on to the north.


Meal Fell

Location: Lake District, Northern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 282337
Height: 1804 ft (550 m)
Status: Wainwright, Dewey

Notes: Meal Fell is a hill in the "back of Skiddaw" group, laying to the northwest of its parent fell, Knott. It is notmally climbed in conjunction with its neighbour, Great Cockup, from Orthwaite or Bassenthwaite. Much of the panorama is shut in by the bulks of Skiddaw and Knott, though there is a good view across the Cumbrian coastal plain to the Solway Firth and across to Scotland. The summit carries a huge wind shelter, an unusual adornment to an insignificant fell such as this.


Meall a'Buachaille

Location: Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms
Grid Ref: NH 990115
Height: 2657 ft (810 m)
Status: Corbett, Marilyn

Notes: The highest top of the ridge to the north of Loch Morlich, Meall a'Buchaiile is a popular climb. The standard route takes the forest track from Glenmore through the Pass of Ryvoan to Ryvoan Bothy, from where a well-maintained path goes up the eastern ridge of the hill. It is a fine vantage point for Cairn Gorm and its ridges and corries, and also overlooks the Rothiemuchus forest to the south and the Abernethy forest to the north. There are glimpses of high tops beyond the Great Glen, and of those either side of the upper Spey valley around Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie.



Meall Chuaich

Location: Scottish Highlands, Drumochter
Grid Ref: NN 716878
Height: 3120 ft (951 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn


Notes
: Meall Chuaich stands at the northeast corner of the group of hills surrounding the Drumochter pass and overlooks the upper Spey valley. Access is easy, there being a good waterworks track from Chuaich, near Dalwhinne, to the adjacent loch and then a moderately graded hill path to the summit. The only slight obstacle is a boulder field surrounding the summit dome. Views are extensive and include the Cairngorms, the Mounth, the Glen Tilt hills and the rest of the Drumochter hills, as well as the Ben Alder group to the west and the Monadhliath to the northwest. Newtonmore, Kungussie and Aviemore can all be seen. The vast emptiness of the Gaick forest stretches for many miles to the southeast.


Meall Greigh

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 674438
Height: 3284 ft (1001 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes: Meall Greigh is the easternmost of the five Munros of the Ben Lawers group. Superheroes will want to tackle all five in one expedition but ordinary mortals will be more content to tackle Meall Greigh alone, or possibly together with neighbour Meall Garbh. Although there is a ridge path between the two there are no paths linking it to the outside world; starting at Machuim and walking up the Lawers burn path you can either tackle the hill direct via Sron Mhor (good terrain but nastily steep) or walk along to the dam and make your way from there up to the Garbh/Greigh col (rough grass, a touch boggy). Views of Loch Tay are superb, and those of the Ben Lawers massif across Lochan nan Cat come a very close second.


Meall nan Sleac

Location: Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms
Grid Ref: NN 868944
Height: 2625 ft (800 m)
Status: Corbett Top

Notes: Meall nan Sleac is a northeastern outlier of Mullach Clach a'Bhlair, and is just a five minue diversion off the ascent path to the latter from Glen Feshie. The best feature of the view is that the summit stands on the southern lip of the ravine-like Coire Garbhlach. The huge bulk of the western Cairngorm plateau shuts out any view to the east, but westwards several stretches of Glen Feshie are in view as well as the wild country beyond, over towards Glen Tromie, the Gaick Forest and Drumochter.



Meall nan Tarmachan

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 585390
Height: 3425 ft (1044 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes: Meall nan Tarmachan stands immediately to the west of the Ben Lawers group and is the Jekyll to Ben Lawers's Hyde; in complete contrast to the rounded slopes of Ben Lawers, Meall nan Tarmachan presents a fascinating line of tors and crags to Killin at the end of Loch Tay. There is some scrambling for those who traverse the whole ridge but the main summit can be reached without any problems by a path from the Bridge of Balgie road just north of the Ben Lawers visitor centre. The reascent from the south top is rather steep but the path is good. The Glen Lyon Munros feature in the northern panorama, Ben Lawers dominates the view to the east, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin are prominent to the south, Ben More and Stobinian to the southwest and the greater part of the Tarmachan Ridge fills the scene to the west.


Meall nan Tarmachan (South Top)

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 589385
Height: 3028 ft (923 m)
Status: Munro Top, Murdo

Notes:See the notes directly above for Meall nan Tarmachan itself. The south top is the first summit that you encounter if you take the path uo from the Bridge of Balgie road a few hundred metres north of the Ben Lawers visitor centre. It commands a grandstand view of the steep path from the next col up to Meall nan Tarmachan itself.

Meall Tairneachan

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 807544
Height: 2582 ft (787 m)
Status: Corbett, Marilyn

Notes: Not to be confused with the Munro Meall nan Tarmachan (q.v.), Meall Tairneachan is a Corbett laying a few miles east of Schiehallion. There is a track servicing a bayrites mine running nearly all the way to the summit; it leaves the public road at NN780562. Simply walk up the track to the bend at NN808545 and then strike off half right for the top. Schiehallion is prominent to the west of course, the Glen Lyon Munros are seen to the south, Farragon Hill to the east and the Drumochter Hills to the north.


Meikle Pap

Location: Scottish Highlands, Mounth
Grid Ref: NO 259860
Height: 3215 ft (980 m)
Status: Munro top, Murdo

Notes: Meikle Pap is a top of Lochnagar, and the first one reaached if you approach by the usual route from Spittal of Glenmuick. It's a mere 200 ft of ascent from the col below the main summit plateau, and the diversion from the main path takes a mere ten minutes. It's worth the visit, for the Pap is a superb viewpoint  for Lochnagar's northern cliffs and corries.



Mellbreak

Location: Lake District, Western Fells
Grid Ref: NY 148186
Height: 1680 ft (512 m)
Status: Marilyn, Wainwright, Dewey

Notes: Mellbreak is something of a Jekyll & Hyde fell. It dominates the scenery around Crummock Water, towering over its southwestern shore, and has very steep flanks and even steeper spurs. Yet, once you get to stand on the summit, you realise that Mellbreak is still dwarfed by the neighbouring Grasmoor and Pillar groups. The easiest way up is by a path on the southwestern side, which in turn is reached by a farm track from Loweswater. Crummock Water is not seen from the summit, the view from which is dominated by the Grasmoor group to the west, the Scafells to the southwest and Pillar to the south.


Mellbreak (north top)

Location: Lake District, Western Fells
Grid Ref: NY 143194
Height: 1670 ft (509 m)
Status: Dewey

Notes: Mellbreak's north top is but ten feet lower than the main summit a few hundred yards away, and there is little doubt that it's the superior vantage point of the two. Apart from it having a much more prominent cairn the view is generally better. The mountain skyline is much the same as from the main summit but in other directions the view out to the Lorton vale and the Cumbroan coastal plain is excellent. Crummock water is not in view but Loweswater is seen end-on.

Middle Dodd

Location: Lake District, Eastern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 397095
Height: 2146 ft (654 m)
Status: Wainwright

Notes: Middle Dodd is really no more than a slight rise on the north ridge of Red Screes as it descends to Brothers Water, but nevertheless it's a pleasant place to be. The views down towards Brothers Water, eastwards to Stony Cove Pike and westwards to Little Hart Crag and Fairfield are all excellent. It's easily visited from Red Screes, with minimal reascent, and the walk takes less than fifteen minutes. Curiously, Wainwright gives the height of the fell at 2106 ft. Perhaps he regarded a minor bump further along the ridge as the summit.



Minch Moor

Location: Southern Uplands, Traquair
Grid Ref: NT 358330
Height: 1860 ft (567 m)
Status: Marilyn

Notes: A lonely summit, a few hundred metres off the route of the Southern Upland Way between Galashiels and Traquair. Minch Moor is a broad moorland top surrounded by forest plantations and there is no immediate view, just distant panoramas. The view to the south and west is especially fine. The hill can be climbed from Traquair in an hour and a half.


Moncreiffe Hill

Location: Perth
Grid Ref: NO 135199
Height: 732 ft (223 m)
Status: Marilyn

Notes: Moncreiffe Hill is a wooded height 3km southeast of Perth, and can be reached via a series of woodland trails leaving the minor road at Tarsappie Cottages. The hill has three tops and boasts several Iron Age hill forts. The view isn't great but the exploration of the woodland trails makes a pleasant two hours' expedition. 


Morrone

Location: Scottish Highlands, Mounth
Grid Ref: NO 132886
Height: 2818 ft (859 m)
Status: Marilyn, Corbett

Notes: Morrone is one of the most accessible and easily ascended of Britain's higher summits. Laying just two miles southwest of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, its summit can be climbed from the town in just 75 minutes. The slopes are largely heather clad but towards the top the terrain becomes more rocky. A mountain rescue radio hut at the summit is served by a rough track that leads south then east off the summit and reaches the minor road opposite Auchallater - it can be utilised as an alternative route of ascent or descent to make a visit to Morrone a circular walk. Views southward are restricted by the Carn Aosda / Carn a' Gheoid massif, but there are good views of the Mounth ranges to the east and west and an excellent view of the Cairngorms to the north.


Mullach Clach a'Bhlair

Location: Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms
Grid Ref: NN 882927
Height: 3343 ft (1019 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo

Notes: A remote top, not so much a peak as a gentle swelling in the huge moorland void between the Feshie and the Eidart in the southwestern corner of the Cairngorms. Access is relatively easy, however, by virtue of a landrover track that comes up from Glen Feshie and crosses the moor just three hundred meters north of the summit. The top can be reached in just under three hours from the nearest road access at Achlean. There is no foreground interest, and on the day I climbed the Mullach it was blanketed in dense cloud so I had no view, but it would be expected to include the Sgor Gaoith ridge end-on to the north, and the twin bulks of Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain to the east with perhaps Cairn Toul and Ben Macdui overtopping them. To the south and southeast are the wastes of the Feshie / Geldie watershed, beyond which An Sgarsoch, Beinn Dearg and the hills of Glen Tilt would stand out.



Mungrisedale Common

Location: Lake District, Northern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 311293
Height: 2077 ft (633 m)
Status: Wainwright

Notes: Why did Wainwright count Mungrisedale Common as a fell in its own right? There are two common theories: he either included it as a joke to see how many of his readers would seek out the summit, or he was seeking to fill the pages of his Northern Fells book, which has a relative paucity of fells compared to the others. Whatever the reason, he was pretty dismissive of Mungrisedale Common, likening its shape to that of "a pudding which has been sat on". In his day there was nothing to mark the nominal summit but a small cairn now exists and no less than seven paths converge on it. The common is a vast splodge of moorland forming the northwestern hinterland of Blencathra, and barely rises above the intervening col; nevertheless it has its charms, provided that you visit on a sunny day. Best approached from the foot of Foule Crag, from where there's a path most of the way. The top image shows the fell as seen from Blencathra; it's the grassy sprawl in the middle distance.



Mynydd Carn-y-Cefn

Location: Ebbw Vale
Grid Ref: SO 187184
Height: 1804 ft (550 m)
Status: Marilyn, Dewey

Notes: The highest point of the moorland ridge seperating Ebbw Vale from Ebbw Fach to the east, Mynydd Carn-y-Cefn is most easily approached from Nantyglo from where a track skirts West Monmouth golf club and runs along the east side of the ridge. The summit itself features a trig pillar sitting on an expanse of dull moorland. There is no foreground interest but the view takes in the Valleys (southwards), the Brecon Beacons (northwestwards) and the Black Mountains (northeastwards).

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This page last updated 31st August 2011