Meall a' Bhuachaille routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX

Peakify lists 1 measured route up Meall a' Bhuachaille, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.

Meall a' Bhuachaille routes, easiest to hardest

There is one measured route so far, graded Moderate. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.

Meall a' Bhuachaille route times by Naismith's rule

The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.

Each Meall a' Bhuachaille route

Glenmore via Ryvoan and An Lochan Uaine

A forest track leads through the Ryvoan Pass to the green lochan and Ryvoan bothy. From there a stony path climbs the heather slope to the summit cairn. It starts from Glenmore (car parks by Loch Morlich). 6.0 km one way with 544 m of ascent. About 2h 5m to the summit and 3h 20m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.

Meall a' Bhuachaille route GPX

This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Meall a' Bhuachaille route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Meall a' Bhuachaille, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.

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Before you pick a route

The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Meall a' Bhuachaille today and the Meall a' Bhuachaille 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.

Planning a day on Meall a' Bhuachaille routes

The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.

Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.

Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.

If you are new to Meall a' Bhuachaille, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.

Questions about Meall a' Bhuachaille

What is the easiest route up Meall a' Bhuachaille?

Walk from Glenmore through the Ryvoan Pass past An Lochan Uaine to Ryvoan bothy, then take the path up the east side to the summit.

How much time does each Meall a' Bhuachaille route take?

Glenmore via Ryvoan and An Lochan Uaine: about 2h 5m up and 3h 20m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.

Can I get a GPX file for a Meall a' Bhuachaille route?

Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.