Carn Dearg [Alder region] Route Information

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Carn Dearg [Alder region]

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

1190 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

10 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

38.12 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

This easy but long route which makes it more of an expedition. Cycling to Loch Pattack will reduce the route time. From Loch Pattack the remaining distance is 11 km, ascent 624m and time 5.5h, so cycling will make it quicker.

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 1,190 metres. Allow 10 hours to complete this 38.12 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 the village of Dalwhinnie
		NN63408470	Distance	Altitude 360 m

1	Cross railway and cycle/walk SW on west bank 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 head 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
		NN52497643	Distance 3.54 km	Altitude 450 m

4	Cross river by bridge and ascend WNW onto east ridge
		NN51357694	Distance 1.30 km	Altitude 820 m

5	Head SW on ridge to summit of Carn Dearg
		NN50427643	Distance 1.15 km	Altitude 1034 m

6	Descend WSW onto Dolliad a' Chairn
		NN49197597	Distance 1.38 km	Altitude 888 m

7	Descend SE to path
		NN50367455	Distance 2.22 km	Altitude 580 m

8	Descend SE path, then NE to rejoin approach route
		NN63408470	Distance 16.93 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 Carn Dearg [Alder region]

Carn Dearg seen from the lower reaches of the Lancet Edge. 19/05/09

Image by Sam Marshall

Carn Dearg seen from the bridge over the Allt a` Chaoil-reidhe as it enters Loch Pattack.

Image by Graham Young

Carn Dearg, Geal-charn (Alder), Aonach Beag and Beinn Eibhinn flanked by Ben Alder and Beinn A' Chlachair seen from Geal-charn (Drumochter)

Image by Peter Burgess

The conical shape of Sgor Gaibhre on the left and Sgor Choinnich on the right taken from the summit plateau of Ben Alder. Behind is the long ridge of Carn Dearg (Alder).

Image by Graham Young

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 2 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Chris Bowles on 07 Jul 2008:

Climbed All 4 on the ridge to make a fine day out. Cycled to Loch Pattack (1 hour), leaving the bikes at a fork in the path, climbing CD via its SW side. The ascent was easy up heathery slopes, Geal-Charn also easy. The continuation to Aonach Beag is one of the easiest (approx 15 mins summit - summit) in all my hillwalking days and then you have an interesting climb to Beinn Eibhinn along a fairly narrow crest. Great views and splendid remoteness. We then descended to 700m before traversing across to the Bealach Dubh then back along to the bikes. The whole route car - car was 8 hours.

Written by Craig Dunderdale on 30 Sep 2006:

Strong suggestion:- You have to climb all 4!! Cycle in from Dalwhinnie leave your bike at Culra bothy nr Culra Lodge(it took about 1.5hrs max the lodge is being done up & has offcuts for bothy stove in the evening!). It took me 7.5hrs including the cycling to the bothy. From behind the bothy head NW onto Carn Dearg ridge it's not too steep. Once on the ridge the path is quite obvious, it's really enjoyable with a bit of a pull up the ridge to Geal Charn but nothing too steep. After climbing Beinn Eibhinn back to the bealach and descend to 700m, contour round saving climb back to Bealach Dubh.

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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