Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

Getting there

• On the A84, 1.5km south of Lochearnhead, a sign marks the entrance to Edinchip Estate.
• 100m to the north of this, parking is available by the entrance to a forestry track on the opposite side of the road.

Creag Mac Ranaich

• Walk up the private drive towards Edinchip. The road comes to a junction - turn right and meet a gate.
• Through the gate, turn immediately left and follow a fence uphill (there were laminated signs here pointing the direction when I last visited).
• Through another gate and a bridge over the old railway line (now used as a cycleway) is met.
• Cross the bridge, then follow a track through forestry. As the end of the forestry is neared, Creag Mac Ranaich comes into view ahead.
• The track continues towards the bealach between Creag Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh, on the way notice the dam over Kendrum Burn - hopefully you'll return to this point at the end of the hike.
• Follow the track up to the bealach (the track continues then down Gleann Dubh to Glen Dochart), then come off the track heading north-east. Passing some crags, then look for a few old rusty fence-posts on your right (east) which mark a grassy route up Creag Mac Ranaich.
• Creag Mac Ranaich has two summits of similar height around 300m apart, the southern one isn't the top ! The northern summit one has the larger cairn and is considered to be the summit.

Meall an t-Seallaidh

• From Creag MacRanaich's summits, retrace your steps to the bealach . Cross the track, then aiming south-west, cross heathery ground and gradually gain height.
• A bealach between Meall an Fhiodhain and Cam Creag is reached - turn south and ascend Cam Creag .
• Now on grassy ground, a line of fence-posts is then followed for around 800m to Meall an t-Seallaidh's summit with a trig point and fine views.

Return

• Continue south-east wards following more fence-posts for 1km.
• Turn eastwards and bound down over grass, then heather clad slopes.
• Through some bracken, cross Kendrum Burn below the small dam , then rejoin the track to return to Edinchip.
• With the dam, Kendrum Burn should be straightforward to cross. However it could be difficult to cross after a lot of heavy rain - if this is the case, keep to the western bank and plod through wet ground to the forest and the old railway line.