Beinn Udlamain, Sgairneach Mhor, A' Mharconaich and Geal Charn [Drumochter Pass] Route Information

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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

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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

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 1.27 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 0.58 km	Altitude 967 m

9	Bear SW to summit of Beinn Udlamain
		NN57967396	Distance 0.73 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 1.06 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 0.69 km	Altitude 991 m

14	Continue E around corrie rim
		NN60357321	Distance 0.47 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 2.21 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)

East Highlands
by Met Office

Beinn Bheoil
by Metcheck

Images of Beinn Udlamain, Sgairneach Mhor, A' Mharconaich & Geal Charn [Drumochter Pass]

Summit of Sgairneach Mhor

© Peter Howell

Image by Peter Howell

Sgairneach Mhor and A' Mharconaich from Balsporran Cottages; 22nd April 2009.

© Roger Vander Steen

Image by Roger Vander Steen

Beinn Udlamain on the approach from the A9 via the path in Coire Dhomhain.

© Bill Wales

Image by Bill Wales

Beinn Udlamain from Sgairneach Mhor 12 Oct 2008

© Colin Fridge

Image by Colin Fridge

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

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 9 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Richard Goodman on 02 May 2011:

If the Allt Coire Dhomhain is in spate there is a bridge at NN608748 crossing it high up in the corrie along the track running beside it.

Written by Neil Campbell on 12 May 2010:

My wife and I did these 4 on the 10th of May 2010. Very cold wind and occasional hail showers but the views were excellent. We added another hour to bag the sow of atholl then another hour back along the A9. 8hrs in total I think.

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!

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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