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The tall stone cairn on the summit of Geal Charn, with wind turbines on the moor far behind it.
Loch Laggan and Creag Meagaidh

Geal Charn

A Munro of 926 metres, number 258 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Geal Charn stands in the Monadhliath above Glen Markie, north of the Spey Dam near Laggan, and is one of four Munros that share the name.

It keeps its distance from the others in these hills: the nearest Munro, Carn Dearg, is about eight kilometres away to the north-east.

An old track through Glen Markie, which ScotWays records as a heritage path to Whitebridge, crosses the flat plateau north-east of the hill. To the west of the track, the charity notes, rough peat hags stretch for many miles.

Starts from
ScotWays starts its Glen Markie Track at the Spey Dam, 4 km west of Laggan, grid reference NN 584 937.
The track
It is a heritage path through to Whitebridge, not a route up the hill, and ScotWays is resurveying it to put right some errors and inaccuracies. To the west of the track lie many miles of rough peat hags.
The burn
ScotWays says the track crosses the Markie Burn by a substantial bridge. Mountaineering Scotland warns that a bridge marked on the map does not always exist on the ground.
Stalking
The National Park Authority gives October for stags, and January and early February for hinds, as the two key stalking periods, and Mountaineering Scotland notes that since 2023 stags can be stalked at any time of year. Check before going.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for this hill, and that does not mean there is no risk here under snow. The avalanche service's full winter forecasts for its six areas begin on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NN 561 987
Parking
There is parking at the Spey Dam, 4 km west of Laggan village, where the track begins.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 926 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.

West wind to 13 mph, gusting 27
Rain, about 3 mm
Light from 7.52am to 6.13pm, ten hours

Sat 17Some cloud−3° to 4° on top · 7 mph, gusts 16
Sun 18Mostly clear−2° to 4° on top · 10 mph, gusts 18
Mon 19Drizzle−3° to 6° on top · 12 mph, gusts 20

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, Met Office North Grampian forecast, Geal Charn (926m), Scottish Avalanche Information Service, Deer stalking in the Cairngorms National Park.

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.

Photographs by Steven Deas, via Google

Please always refer to appropriate, up-to-date maps before you undertake any of the routes, and exercise caution when you head out.ScotWays, the rights of way charity, on its page for the Glen Markie Track
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 561 987
  • 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: Carn Dearg, Carn Liath, A' Chailleach, Carn Sgulain. Checked on 10 October 2026. The facts on this page are ScotWays', the Cairngorms National Park Authority's, Mountaineering Scotland's and Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's, the Met Office's and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service'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.