Geal Charn [Loch Laggan] and Creag Pitridh Route Information

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Geal Charn [Loch Laggan] & Creag Pitridh

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

1017 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

6 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

20.90 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

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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

A relatively easy route with good approach tracks/paths, there are some crags but they can generally be avoided.

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: Spean Bridge

From Spean Bridge (A86) travel E 19km to bridge over River Spean.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,017 metres. Allow 6 hours to complete this 20.90 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 A86 at bridge over River Spean to Torgulbin
		NN43248306	Distance	Altitude 260 m

1	Follow road SE to first junction
		NN44368220	Distance 1.88 km	Altitude 290 m

2	Turn right and continue S turning SE to second junction
		NN45298088	Distance 1.97 km	Altitude 355 m

3	Turn left and head NE
		NN46218136	Distance 1.14 km	Altitude 355 m

4	Turn SE and cross bridge at loch
		NN46668113	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 355 m

5	Follow path SW to bend
		NN46448092	Distance 0.28 km	Altitude 375 m

6	Follow path SE by Allt Coire Pitridh
		NN47378043	Distance 0.13 km	Altitude 500 m

7	Leave path and ascend NE to ridge West of summit
		NN48308144	Distance 1.46 km	Altitude 830 m

8	Bear E and ascend to summit of Creag Pitridh
		NN48758145	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 924 m

9	Descend SE through crags to bealach (830m)
		NN49148099	Distance 0.66 km	Altitude 830 m

10	Ascend E on SW ridge of Geal Charn
		NN50048096	Distance 0.95 km	Altitude 1000 m

11	Head ENE to summit
		NN50458117	Distance 0.46 km	Altitude 1049 m

12	Return WSW down ridge
		NN50048096	Distance 0.46 km	Altitude 1000 m

13	Continue your descent W to the bealach
		NN49148099	Distance 0.95 km	Altitude 830 m

14	Descend SW turning S to path junction
		NN48917999	Distance 1.08 km	Altitude 735 m

15	Head WNW to join path leading NW to approach route and return
		NN43248306	Distance 8.57 km	Altitude 260 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Ben Alder
by Metcheck

Images of Geal Charn [Loch Laggan] & Creag Pitridh

Creag Pitridh in the centre with Beinn a'Chlachair on the right, seen from Loch Laggan dam

Image by Alistair Craig

Geal Charn Summit.

Image by Peter Chisholm

Geal Charn(Laggan) viewed from the road to Loch Pattack from Ben Alder lodge.

Image by Graham Young

Geal Charn from the Summit of Beinn a'Chlachair.

Image by Peter Chisholm

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

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 2 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Craig Dunderdale on 04 Aug 2006:

Use a bike and do all 3! Route as per McNeish's book. This took 6hrs doing Chlachair first which is a tramp up the heather slopes to the main ridge unless you want to go the long way round, past the cliffs and up the path, descend to the bealach then up Geal Charn, returning to Pitridh. Thankfully the last hill has little ascent from the bealach between the last 2 on an obvious path. Return to Allt Coire Pitridh and pick up the bike for a lovely down hill ride back.

Written by John Walker on 03 Dec 2004:

I did this on the 2nd Dec 2004, and the frost and snow covering made it very enjoyable, with great views of Ben Alder, the Grey Corries and Creag Meagaidh. I linked it with Beinn a Chlachair, and I do not think there is really another way of doing them, other than the labourious 6k up the land rover track twice! I would definitely recommend the use of a mountain bike to the foot of the stalker's path.

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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