Geal Charn (one of four Munros by that name) may not look much from the standard access points to the south, but closer acquaintance reveals a grand eastern corrie. This sports an interesting glacier-carved notch, reminiscent of The Window on nearby Creag Meagaidh. Standing at the southern fringe of the Monadhliath, that great rolling expanse of nothingness marred only by poorly sited windfarms and unplanned estate tracks, Geal Charn offers a relatively quick, straightforward and accessible single-summit day - a good one for winter.
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metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NN5846293701 Park by the minor road just before the Spey Dam - there's space on the north side of the road bridge over the River Spey. Follow the track along the river, soon curving right below the dam. Pass a large works compound (a substation on the Beauly-Denny power line is currently being built) and continue uphill towards a pine wood. Keep left at two junctions, following the track along the west edge of the wood, and then roughly north up Glen Markie.
2
NN5848097428 Where the Piper's Burn runs out of Geal Charn's eastern corrie, leave the track and hop across the Markie Burn. This can be hard to achieve dry-shod, and in spate it's worth noting that there's a bridge further up-glen. A faint path follows the Piper's Burn uphill towards Geal Charn. Above the initial steep ascent the slope opens out into the boggy lower reaches of the eastern corrie. Stay a little right, following the right branch of the burn up over bogs and heather, climbing steadily up to the broad shoulder west of Bruach nam Biodag. Continuing to climb, trend left to follow the edge of the corrie cliffs before veering roughly west-southwest over Geal Charn's wide summit plateau to the large cairn on top.
3
NN5615598765 You could return the same way, but a circuit is usually better, and this one gives you a look at Uinneag Coire an Lochain, that interesting glacial notch in the corrie edge. Head roughly south to descend to the col at the head of the notch - in poor visibility, especially if it's snowy underfoot, make sure you stay comfortably west of the steep sides of the notch. From the col pick up a quad bike track that makes a rising traverse across the western flank of Beinn Sgiath.
4
NN5631497682 Once on the broad southwest spur of the hill you'll need to leave the track and follow your nose south to descend easy-angled ground above Glen Markie. As you reach the steep southern terminal slopes of the hill, above the cut of An Dirc Mor, bear left. Descend steep, rough ground (no path) to reach the forest edge in Glen Markie. Follow its northern boundary (boggy) and then re-cross the Markie Burn to join the approach track of stage 1. If in doubt about the water level in the burn, it's possible to reach the Spey Dam by continuing south instead.
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 9.26 miles (14.90 km)
Total ascent: 712m
Time: 5 – 6 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Roadside parking near the Spey Dam, NN584937
Nearest town:
Newtonmore
Terrain:
A vehicle track allows easy access up Glen Markie. A mountain bike would make things quicker, though it's not really far to walk. Crossing the Markie Burn might be difficult in spate, and in that case a bridge further up the glen can be used (NN588983). The hill stage is on intermittent paths, with a fair share of bogs and heather.
Seasonal variations:
If visibility is poor in winter, look out for cornices along the corrie edge. On the descent, bear in mind that the steep slopes of the 'notch' between Geal Charn and Beinn Sgiath potentially cut across your path - you don't want to walk off the edge in a whiteout.
Weather and Hill Conditions: SAIS: Creag Meagaidh – mwis: Cairngorms & Monadhliath – Met Office: East Highlands
Public transport:
Train to Newtonmore, then an infrequent bus service from there to Laggan. From Laggan it's a 3km walk to the start point of the route.
Guidebooks:
The Munros (SMC)
Maps:
OS Explorer 401 (1:25,000), OS Explorer 402 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 35 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Kingussie (0845 22 55 121)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
- Meall na Teanga & Sron a' Choire Ghairbh - The Loch Lochy Munros 6 Nov, 2023
- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023
- Loch Ossian round - Seven Munros by Train 15 Sep, 2023
- Beinn Dronaig - 30km of Solitude 23 Aug, 2023