Loch Rannoch to Drumochter

The hills on either side of the A9 road where it crosses the Drumochter Pass form a small group of relatively low and featureless Munros lying midway between the great ranges of Lochaber to the west and the Mounth and Cairngorms to the east and north-east. The better half of this group is on the west side of the road, where Sgairneach Mhor and A'Mharconaich are prominent hills with some steep corries. Between them, Beinn Udlamain is a more distant flat-topped hill at the head of Coire Dhomhain , and a little further north Geal-charn is an undistinguished hill opposite Drumochter Lodge which used to be recognised by the group of four or five tall cairns near its summit, but sadly these have been knocked down.

On the east side of the road, a very extensive plateau stretches eastwards to the head of Glen Tromie and the Gaick Pass. Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag are the two highest points on this plateau, but they rise very little above its general level, and the overall impression of these hills is one of vast flatness. Just to the north of this plateau Meall Chuaich is an isolated rounded hill which is prominent from the A9 road near Cuaich cottages, and is also well seen in the distant view from Loch Insh in Strathspey.

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