I was advised that using
/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=0
displays all the top level categories. This was perfect for what I need.

However, it would seem that using this everything to do with the page is adopting the homepage settings like

meta data and page H1 tag.

Whats the best way I can implement custome metaand page title for this url?

I was thinking of just doing an if cPath == 0 type statement in the meta module and find the breadcrumbs last statement on the page and tell it to do something else if it is cPath == 0?

anyone know of a better/easier way?

Phil