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Drumochter and Loch Ericht

Geal-charn

A Munro of 1,132 metres, number 26 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Four Munros are called Geal-charn, and this is the highest of them: the one in the Ben Alder massif, west of Loch Ericht.

At 1,132 metres it stands 26th among all 282, only sixteen metres lower than Ben Alder itself, which is a little under four kilometres away to the south-east.

Ben Alder Estate lists it among the nine Munros on its ground, a list that runs from Sgor Gaibhre at 955 metres up to Ben Alder. Aonach Beag is the nearest of them, just over a kilometre to the west. A large cairn marks the summit.

The walk in
Most people bound for Ben Alder Estate's bothy, Ben Alder Cottage, come from Dalwhinnie, on what the estate calls the long, almost 20km track along the loch. From the lay-by by Loch Pattack, where guests of its lodge leave their cars, the track to its lodge at Culra is about 7 km. Both are only the walk in, not the length of the day. The estate also names Camusericht and Corrour as ways in from the south.
The ground
Geal-charn is one of the nine Munros on Ben Alder Estate. The estate stalks stags from August to October and hinds from October to December. From mid August to 15 February it asks walkers to keep to paths where they can and to reach the tops by the most prominent ridges. Estate office: 01540 672000.
Shelter
Culra bothy has been demolished, and the Mountain Bothies Association says there is now no shelter at all near it. The old stone part of Ben Alder Cottage is always open for anyone to use, but the estate also lets the cottage as a paid stay, McCook's Bothy, so ring the estate office before counting on it.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service's full forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026. Having no forecast does not mean there is no risk under snow.
Summit
Grid reference NN 469 746, at a large cairn.
Car park
The walkers' car park at Dalwhinnie is at grid reference NN 633 846.
The railway
In October 2026 Network Rail had closed the level crossing at the car park to the public. Use the underpass to the south at the Ben Alder cottages instead, grid reference NN 634 841: it joins the same path towards Ben Alder.
On the hill today
−1° to 2°Drizzle on the summit, 1,132 m. Feels like −5° in the wind.

West wind to 15 mph, gusting 27
Rain, about 2 mm
Light from 7.52am to 6.14pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−2° to 2° on top · 9 mph, gusts 20
Sun 18Clear−3° to 2° on top · 11 mph, gusts 19
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 4° on top · 5 mph, gusts 10

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath forecast, West Highlands forecast, Geal-charn, North Grampian mountain forecast, Deer stalking and hill access.

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 469 746
  • 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: Aonach Beag, Beinn Eibhinn, Beinn a' Chlachair, Ben Alder. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are Ben Alder Estate's, the Mountain Bothies Association's, Network Rail's, the Cairngorms National Park Authority'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.