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The broad snow dome of A' Mharconaich in pale pink evening light.
Drumochter and Loch Ericht

A' Mharconaich

A Munro of 973 metres, number 183 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

A' Mharconaich is one of the four Munros on the west side of the A9 at Drumochter.

Geal-charn stands about two kilometres to the north-west, Sgairneach Mhor about three kilometres to the south and Beinn Udlamain a little further off to the south-west.

Below it, the road and the Highland Main Line run side by side through the pass. The Cairngorms National Park Authority counts the Drumochter hills as the southern end of the Park's mountains, and calls Dalwhinnie, the nearest village, the highest village in the Highlands.

Starts from
The Balsporran car park on the A9, which Transport Scotland's 2016 note on walkers' routes names for this hill. From there walkers cross the A9 on the level to reach the hill's track.
Stalking
Check for stalking before you go and follow any signs.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for the Drumochter hills: the Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecasts for six other areas. Having no forecast does not mean there is no risk under snow.
Summit
Grid reference NN 604 762.
Roadworks
In October 2026 overnight resurfacing on the A9 at the Pass of Drumochter was due to finish by the morning of Tuesday 13 October, with temporary traffic lights, a lane closed during working hours and lay-by 83 shut. More works follow, so check Traffic Scotland on the day you travel.
Fuel and toilets
The Dalwhinnie Service Station has 24-hour fuel and a toilet.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 973 m. Feels like −4° in the wind.

West wind to 13 mph, gusting 26
Rain, about 1 mm
Light from 7.51am to 6.13pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−3° to 4° on top · 8 mph, gusts 18
Sun 18Clear−3° to 4° on top · 7 mph, gusts 14
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 5° on top · 9 mph, gusts 16

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Southeastern Highlands forecast, Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecast, A'Mharconaich, North Grampian mountain forecast.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 604 762
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Geal-charn, Sgairneach Mhor, Beinn Udlamain, A' Bhuidheanach Bheag. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Transport Scotland's, Traffic Scotland's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.