Hidden Scotland
Sign in
The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan rising green out of a sea of cloud.
Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon

Meall nan Tarmachan

A Munro of 1,044 metres, number 90 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Meall nan Tarmachan stands above Loch Tay in Perth and Kinross, with the Ben Lawers hills for neighbours: Meall Corranaich is about three and a half kilometres to the north-east and Ben Lawers itself between five and six.

Most of the Tarmachan range lies within the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, which the National Trust for Scotland owns and manages and which is famous for its flora. On this hill's slopes the Trust is restoring the habitat, and young woodland is growing up as part of it.

The plants up here are easily damaged underfoot, so the Trust asks walkers to keep to the path as far as they can.

Starts from
The National Trust for Scotland's reserve car park lies below the hill's slopes.
The ridge
Harvey's map names the Tarmachan Ridge. Read a full route description before you set out along it.
The ground
Fragile mountain plants grow here. The Trust asks you to keep to the path as far as possible and to keep dogs under control.
Summit
Grid reference NN 585 390
Car park
The National Trust for Scotland's reserve car park, on the hill road above Loch Tay. Ask the Trust about the charge and the toilets before you set out: 01567 820988 or benlawers@nts.org.uk.
Bus
Perth and Kinross Council lists service 893 between Killin and Aberfeldy along the lochside road, not up to the car park. Its timetable is dated 2018 and runs on schooldays only: check it before relying on it.
On the hill today
−1° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 1,044 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

North-west wind to 12 mph, gusting 25
Rain, about 1 mm
Light from 7.50am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−4° to 3° on top · 5 mph, gusts 14
Sun 18Clear−4° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 13
Mon 19Drizzle−6° to 5° on top · 7 mph, gusts 15

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Southeastern Highlands forecast, West Highlands forecast, South Grampian and Southeast Highlands mountain forecast, Meall nan Tarmachan, No avalanche forecast for this range.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Vegetation is easily damaged by repeated trampling, so please keep to the path as far as possible.The National Trust for Scotland, which owns the reserve
Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 585 390
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

Nobody has written from Meall nan Tarmachan yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

Tell the next person

Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.

Sign in to tell them
From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Meall Corranaich, Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, Meall a' Choire Leith. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are the National Trust for Scotland's, Harvey Maps' and Perth and Kinross Council's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.