Geal-charn

Geal-Charn is a Munro and Marilyn standing 917 metres high in the Grampian Mountains. Its Gaelic name means ‘white hill’. It lies in the Highland council area just north of the Perth and Kinross border, east of Loch Ericht and south of Dalwhinnie within the Drumochter Hills. The hills form a Site of Special Scientific Interest around the Pass of Drumochter, where the A9, National Cycle Route 7 and Highland Main Line link the northern and southern Highlands. The range contains seven Munros plus lower summits, and Geal-Charn is the lowest of them all. The broad rounded summit ridge runs roughly north to south. West of the peak the ground drops steeply to the shores of Loch Ericht, while to the east the Coire Fhàr corrie forms a natural boundary. South of Geal-Charn the corrie floor at 739 metres links to the next Munros, A’ Mharconaich at 975 metres and Beinn Udlamain at 1011 metres. A wide east ridge descends gradually into Glen Truim, and a shorter broad ridge heads north into Coire Beul an Sporain. Most of the flanks are covered in grass and heather with scattered rocks, except on the north-west face where Creag Dhubh’s cliffs fall straight to Loch Ericht. Walkers usually start from a car park near Balsporran Cottages north of the Pass of Drumochter on the A9. From there the route enters Coire Fhàr. One direct way climbs the east ridge along a clear path. Another option follows the narrow south ridge from the top of the corrie. Many Munro-baggers combine Geal-Charn with the nearby A’ Mharconaich and Beinn Udlamain, using high-level connections that join the south ridge.