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The Glen Meran Crossing is a long walk of some 14 miles from Loch Lyon through Glen Meran to the intersection of Achallader farm and Glencoe roads. This route is ideally for those who like walking and are physically fit. It could take upto 6 hours to complete, depending on the level of your fitness. Once you arrive at the end you either have to walk the way back again or arrange transport, otherwise you will be stranded!!

In times past, the heart of the walk, the ancient hill-crossing of Glen Meran - running from the north side of Loch Lyon, in Perthshire, over to the Water of Tulla on the fringes of Rannoch Moor - was one of the main cattle routes from the north to the great trysts (markets) at Grieff and Falkirk. Inevitably, it also attracted cattle raiders, notably the MacDonalds, who used the pass o reive livestock from the Campbells, who had obtained' the fertile lands of Glen Lyon from the MacGregors and other, smaller families. These excursions were of some significance. In 1749 the Redcoat post at Tummel Bridge reported that the head of Glen Lyon was carefully watched - though with little success, as the raids helped to bankrupt Robert Campbell, who was to play his part in the Glencoe massacre with such hate-filled relish.

Nowadays, it is very much deer-stalking terrain walkers, during the season, should stick to the base of the glen when going over the pass (which is a right of way). However, things might have been very different if, during the l9th century, the owners of the estate had not blocked the plans of the great engineer Thomas Telford, who had earmarked the crossing for one of his new roads! Of course there have been changes. There was once an inn at Invermeran to cater for the drovers. But that is gone now, buried, along with many houses, under the waters of Loch Lyon - doubled in size and raised more than 100 ft by the chain of modern hydro-electric dams that make up the Breadalbane Power Station. However, despite the onward march of technology, the hill walker of today still can discover an inspiring, unspoilt landscape steeped in history.

The walker, equipped with adequate hill gear, should set off from the dam at the east end of Loch Lyon and proceed westwards on a tiny path around the shores of the loch; then curve northwards and uphill along the east side of the prominent, northerly arm of the loch. The crest of the pass lies ahead and is reached via an intermittent path. During the ascent, keep a look out for a small cairn by the side of the burn. It commemorates a herd maiden called McNee, who was caught up in a MacDonald cattle raid and killed in a running fight with Campbell pursuers. The ancient and lovely Breadalbane lullaby, `Chrodh Chailean' (Colin's Cattle) recalls the event - Colin being Gray Colin, earl of Breadalbane, whose clan owned the glen. Nowadays, the tune is sometimes played on the pipes in march time. From the crest of the pass follow the burn, the Allt Learg Mheuran, downhill for about a mile, then contour northwest down to a bridge across the Water of Tulla river - but note that the bridge can be hard to spot.

From the bridge a poor track leads on to the old bothy at Gorton, and from there take the estate track that leads westwards on the north side of the river. Keep a look out for the pine woods of Crannach, remnants of the great forest that once covered much of the Highlands, and take in the fine views to be had of the mountains that form the Wall of Rannoch, and Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn a' Chreachan and their outliers, before crossing the next bridge southwards over the river and going on to ford a tributary burn near Achallader farm. At the farm the remains of the old Clan Fletcher tower can be seen. `Acquired' by the Breadalbane Campbells, it was the location of the negotiations between Gray John, earl of Breadalbane, and the Jacobite chiefs - which were the first warning signs of the Glencoe massacre. Finally, the walker should continue westwards along the farm road until they meet the A82 Glencoe road and his/her pre-arranged transport.