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Home   Glossary
Beinn Udlamain, Sgairneach Mhor, A' Mharconaich & Geal Charn [Drumochter Pass]
Quick Facts
This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1183 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time
7 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
23.12 km
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  42   Glen Garry & Loch Rannoch
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
Easy walking in a beautiful area. Care needed crossing stream when in spate.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

 Travel Information

Head to: Dalwhinnie

From Dalwhinnie follow road South then join A9 road, continue South for approx. 4KM. Balsporran cottages can be found on your right.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,183 metres. Allow 7 hours to complete this 23.12 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

 Route Information
Waypoint Detail
  Start from Balsporran cottages on the A9 road
  NN62837922 Distance
Altitude
423 m
1
Cross railway via gates and head W to gain ascent ridge
NN61647925 Distance
1.28 km
Altitude
555 m
2
Climb path SW up to summit of Geal-Charn
NN59657826 Distance
2.26 km
Altitude
917 m
3
Continue SSW and drop to approx 740m
NN59257663 Distance
1.75 km
Altitude
740 m
4
Ascend SE to summit of A' Mharconaich
NN60437629 Distance
1.38 km
Altitude
975 m
5
Head SW along ridge.
NN60137586 Distance
0.53 km
Altitude
986 m
6
Return along ridge following a line of broken fence posts and continue SW down to col (860m)
NN59157523 Distance
1.74 km
Altitude
860 m
7
Ascend SSW on ridge
NN58827463 Distance
0.68 km
Altitude
875 m
8
Continue your ascent W on ridge
NN58307458 Distance
0.59 km
Altitude
967 m
9
Bear SW to summit of Beinn Udlamain
NN57967396 Distance
0.74 km
Altitude
1011 m
10
Follow fence S on ridge
NN57937295 Distance
0.85 km
Altitude
840 m
11
Head E and ascend
NN58937313 Distance
1.07 km
Altitude
925 m
12
Ascend SE onto summit ridge
NN59367269 Distance
0.64 km
Altitude
946 m
13
Bear NE to trig-point and summit of Sgairneach Mhor
NN59897313 Distance
0.70 km
Altitude
991 m
14
Continue E around corrie rim
NN60357321 Distance
0.48 km
Altitude
903 m
15
Descend NE on ridge
NN60767360 Distance
0.56 km
Altitude
815 m
16
Continue E to the end of the North East spur
NN61437368 Distance
0.74 km
Altitude
758 m
17
Drop NE into Coire Dhomhain, cross stream (no bridge) to join landrover track
NN62587524 Distance
2.22 km
Altitude
510 m
18
Follow track ENE to rejoin A9 road
NN63227547 Distance
0.76 km
Altitude
475 m
19
Walk N along cycle track to starting point
  NN62837922 Distance
4.20 km
Altitude
423 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
Southeastern Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
Ben Alder
by Accuweather
East Highlands
by Met Office
Beinn Bheoil
by Metcheck
Images of Beinn Udlamain, Sgairneach Mhor, A' Mharconaich & Geal Charn [Drumochter Pass]
Route Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

 Where to Stay
Results by distance from the route start.
14.5 km
Crubenbeg House
Falls of Truim, Newtonmore,
15.2 km
Laggan Hotel
Laggan, Newtonmore
15.3 km
The Rumblie Guest House
The Rumblie, Gergask Avenue, Laggan, By Newtonmore
21.3 km
Eagle View Guest House
Perth Road Newtonmore
21.6 km
Craigerne House Hotel and Beautiful Mountain Coffee Shop
Golf Course Road
21.7 km
Netherwood House
Glen Road, Newtonmore
22.6 km
Croft Holidays
Croft Dhu, Newtonmore
27.2 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
27.3 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
28.7 km
Highland Perthshire Lodges
Glenoulandie, Foss by Pitlochry, Perthshire
33.1 km
Àite Cruinnichidh
1 Achluachrach, By Roy Bridge, Near Fort William, Inverness-shire
34.1 km
Fortingall Hotel
Fortingall, by Aberfeldy, PH15 2NQ
35.7 km
Dunhafen Bed and Breakfast
Glenspean Park, Roy Bridge, Inverness-Shire
37.9 km
Drynachan Bed and Breakfast
Invergarry, Inverness-shire
39.1 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
40.0 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
40.3 km
Inverour Guest House
Roybridge Road, Spean Bridge
40.8 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
42.3 km
Glencaig self catering holiday cottage
No 6 Stronaba, Spean Bridge
43.2 km
Ravenscraig Guest House
Grampian Road, Aviemore
46.4 km
CRAIGBUIE Guest House
Main Street, Killin
48.7 km
Glenloy Lodge
Muirshearlich, by Banavie, Fort William
49.9 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
51.8 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
52.6 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
53.2 km
Suie Lodge Hotel
Glendochart, nr. Crianlarich
53.6 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
53.6 km
Glenaladale House B&B
Achintore Road. Fort William
53.9 km
Schiehallion House
10 Glenshee Road Braemar
53.9 km
Cranford Guest House
15 Glenshee Road, Braemar, Aberdeenshre
55.4 km
Achray House Hotel & Lodges
On Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire
55.5 km
Clachan Cottage Hotel
Lochside, Lochearnhead
57.2 km
Tomich Hotel
Tommich, Cannich, Nr Beauly
57.3 km
Glengarry House
Tyndrum
57.5 km
Tomich Holidays
Guisachan Farm, Tomich, Cannich, By Beauly
57.7 km
Aros Beag
Tyndrum
58.4 km
STRATHASSYNT GUEST HOUSE
Loanfern, Ballachulish, NR. Glencoe, Highlands.
58.4 km
Leitters Farm
Balquhidder Station, by Lochearnhead
58.8 km
West Highland Lodge
Crianlarich, Perthshire
59.1 km
The Crianlarich Hotel
Crianlarich
59.7 km
Westward
Cannich, Beauly, Inverness-shire
60.1 km
Dunedin Croft
Dunedin, Cannich, nr Inverness
62.4 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
62.5 km
Birchbrae Luxury Self Catering Lodges
Birchbrae, Onich, Fort William
64.6 km
The Cnoc Hotel
Struy, by Beauly,
69.9 km
Craigroyston
Dalmally, Dalmally
73.3 km
Skiary
Skiary, Loch Hourn, By Invergarry, Highlands and Islands
79.7 km
Woodlands (self-catering)
by Shiel Bridge, Inverness-shire
79.7 km
Muirhouses Farm B&B
Cortachy, Kirriemuir, Angus,
81.5 km
Roineabhal Country House
Kilchrenan Taynuilt Argyll
81.8 km
Rowantreebank B&B
Main Street, Arrochar, G83 7AA
82.8 km
Burnbrae B & B
Shore Road Arrochar
84.4 km
Rowardennan Hotel
Rowardennan, Loch Lomond
85.2 km
Birch Cottage
7 Station Road, Garve
85.6 km
Garve Cottages
RoseMount Cottage Garve Ross-shire
86.1 km
Inverbeg Holiday Park
Inverbeg Holiday Park, By Luss, Loch Lomond, Argyll
91.7 km
Walkers Lodge, Ledgowan Lodge Hotel
Achnasheen, Achnasheen
93.0 km
Coulags Croft
Coulags, Strathcarron
93.0 km
Lochcarron Holiday Properties
Strathcarron, Ross Shire
93.6 km
The Old School
Dalavich, Taynuilt, Argyll & Bute
94.3 km
Castle Cottage B and B
Lochcarron
98.7 km
The Shed (self-catering studio)
Seabank 6 Bank St Plockton Ross-shire
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
A mobile base fo your next Munro?
Fantastic, heated, 2-4 berth campervans for hire
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  Like the idea of a more mobile base for your next Munro?
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Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 8 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Andrew Blair on 27 Jul 2009:
This route is a delight! Much better than I expected having never been excited by these hills when I've driven through them. I'm sure the sunny weather played a part in it as the views were lovely in all directions. Please take a moment to go to the end of the ridge at A'Marchonaich - I watched several folk go as far as the cairn, look at their maps & turn around to head for Beinn Udlamain! They missed awesome views overlooking the corrie. 1 thing - you're on your own getting back to the A9 from Sgairneach Mhor. The clear path I followed suddenly ended & I had to wade through deep heather.
 
Written by Scott Strathdee on 05 Oct 2007:
I only took 6 hrs for this route that included the walk back along the road . Stunning views all around you.
 
Written by Rob Jeffries on 07 Jun 2004:
Munro-baggers could even experience the thrill of a Corbett by adding the Sow of Atholl onto the end of the walk for only another 200m or so of ascent!
 
Written by John Mcallister on 19 Apr 2004:
A good route. It bags 4 munros, not too long, not to much ascent, great views and easily ascessible. Handly having two cars.
 
Written by Terry Thomson on 07 Mar 2004:
An enjoyable route with good panoramic views when low cloud lifts enough to appreciate.
 
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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