Home   Glossary
Geal-Charn [Alder region], Aonach Beag [Alder region] & Beinn Eibhinn
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
1816 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
13.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
49.69 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  (£13.49 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
A long strenuous route with scrambling and exposure on Sgor Iutharn. Actually it is more of an expedition. From Loch Pattack the route distance is 24 km, ascent 1166 m and time 7h, so cycling will make it possible in one day.

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

At Dalwhinnie (A9) park to commence route. This is a very long walk but there is a good track to Loch Pattack which can be cycled.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,816 metres. Allow 13.5 hours to complete this 49.69 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 the village of Dalwhinnie
  NN63408470 Distance
Altitude
360 m
1
Cross railway and cycle/walk SW on north shore of Loch Ericht to branch in road near Ben Alder Lodge
NN57587915 Distance
8.55 km
Altitude
390 m
2
Follow right road WSW (uphill) and continue W towards Loch Pattack
NN54847868 Distance
3.06 km
Altitude
446 m
3
Head SW on path (cycling is possible much of the way) to Cultra Bothy (Leave bike here)
NN52497643 Distance
3.54 km
Altitude
450 m
4
Cross river by bridge and continue SW on path on north bank of river
NN50087448 Distance
3.29 km
Altitude
585 m
5
Ascend WNW onto Sgor Iutharn and scramble WSW up "Lancet Edge" to summit
NN48807433 Distance
1.38 km
Altitude
1028 m
6
Head W, turning WNW to summit of Geal Charn
NN47027463 Distance
1.94 km
Altitude
1132 m
7
Bear SW turning WSW on ridge to Aonach Beag
NN45817418 Distance
1.41 km
Altitude
1116 m
8
Descend SW to 975m col
NN45557370 Distance
0.55 km
Altitude
975 m
9
Ascend SW around corrie
NN45237332 Distance
0.53 km
Altitude
1005 m
10
Bear NNW to Beinn Eibhinn
NN44827341 Distance
0.53 km
Altitude
1102 m
11
Return ESE around corrie
NN45237332 Distance
0.53 km
Altitude
1005 m
12
Return to 975m col
NN45557370 Distance
0.55 km
Altitude
975 m
13
Descend SE turning E below Sron Ruadh to reach path
NN47617291 Distance
2.40 km
Altitude
640 m
14
Head NE through Bealach Dubh to rejoin approach route
  NN63408470 Distance
21.44 km
Altitude
360 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 [Alder region], Aonach Beag [Alder region] & Beinn Eibhinn
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 7 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Keith Johnstone on 22 Jun 2010:
We did Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag and Geal Charn from Corrour. To do all 3 took us around 8.5 hours with quite a few stops. It's easy going along the edge of the loch then you are kind of straight up Beinn Eibhinn. The other two are easy from there. The walk back to the loch takes a couple of hours, underfoot was dry but I did note previous comments about how boggy the path is and I'm sure it could be given a bit of rain.
 
Written by Martin Joyce on 02 Oct 2007:
I think it's better to split this route into two expeditions - Geal Charn and Carn Dearg from Culra and Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag from Corrour. This way you avoid retracing your steps over a summit on the ridge - which I always think is unsatisfactory. It has to be said though that a return to Corrour from Aonach Beag down the filthy, twisty path beside the Uisge Labhair is soul-destroying
 
Written by Martin Joyce on 18 Sep 2007:
I found the Lancet Edge quite an intimidating prospect. There's not much in the way of a path either, which always makes you wonder.. Anyway, be assured, it's really quite easy. The rock is rather shattered and there's a bit of exposure, so you want to make sure you're always holding onto something solid. Beyond this, it's very enjoyable, and if the rock were just a bit better "the Edge" would be an absolute classic. I actually found the steep boulder slope on the route from the bealach to Geal Charn more of a problem. Following a compass in thick mist I just had to go straight up this
 
Written by Peter Lang on 12 Sep 2007:
Fantastic outing from Culra bothy via lancet edge, cycled in on previous night (1.5hrs) and camped, used bothy for cooking etc. took 8 hrs for circuit including returning via Carn dearg and final summit high above the bothy meant quick descent to camp. Not often can see finish from summit cairn. Highly recommend as walking good at high level and fitting finale via Diollaid a'Chairn ridge. means excellent views out to Beinn Eibhinn, loch ossian and alternative views to loch ericht etc on return to Carn dearg. Bothy excellent 3 seperate units in one building.
 
Written by Craig Dunderdale on 01 Oct 2006:
Including the cycle in from Dalwhinie to Bothy (excellent stove with offcuts from Culra Lodge but left my bloody MSR stove there). Head NW behind Bothy on ridge follow obvious path, bit of a pull onto it and up to Geal Charn but nothing too bad. Contoured around 700m after last hill to save climb bback to Bealach Dubh. Long walk back to Bothy great stay in Bothy while weather outside was horrendous.
 
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.
Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Contact Us