Home » Hills » Munros » Central Highlands » Drumochter
Drumochter's Munros & Corbetts
Heather and grass covered lumps ! The Drumochter Munros and Corbetts are not the most inspiring of hills, but the area is a good place in which to lose yourself and find wildlife.
Main route summary
Most people will tick these Munros off in three groups : 4 on the west of the A9, then Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag on the eastern side, and Meall Chuaich on its own (see 'Alternative Routes' details of these individual routes).
Taken together however, there is only 2250m of ascent to tackle.
Terrain is fairly easy underfoot, with most of the route on paths and following fence-posts.
The east side of the A9, south of Dalwhinnie is pretty desolate and can be a bit of a trudge.
The peaks on the western side of the A9 have bags more character and afford good views over Loch Ericht to the Ben Alder group and beyond.
Meall Chuaich's blandness is forgiven as excellent views to the Cairngorms, Monadh Liath and east can be savoured from its summit on clear days.
| Munros |
Geal-charn (917m, Munro 278)
A'Mharconaich (975m, Munro 181)
Beinn Udlamain (1011m, Munro 119)
Sgairneach Mhor (991m, Munro 155)
A'Bhuidheanach Bheag (936m, Munro 240)
Carn na Caim (941m, Munro 233)
Meall Chuaich (951m, Munro 214)
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| Corbetts |
The Sow of Atholl* (803m)
*See 'Alternative Routes' below
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| Ascent |
2250m (7,400ft)
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| Distance |
43km (plus 8km on bike) (27m+5m)
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| Time |
walk : 14:30hr*
run : 6:15hr
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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| Start/finish |
Balsporran Cottages
(grid ref : NN627792)
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Profile
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Maps
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Which map to choose ?
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Downloads
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| Terrain | | easy |
 | difficult |
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| Navigation | | easy |
 | testing |
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| Effort | | stroll |
 | long day |
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| Scenery | | ok |
 | stunning |
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| Meanings |
Sgairneach Mhor : 'big scree'
Beinn Udlamain: 'jointed or unsteady hill'
Geal-charn : 'white hill'
A'Mharconaich : 'the place of horses'
A'Bhuidheanach Bheag : 'little yellow place'
Carn na Caim : 'hill of the curve'
Meall Chuaich : 'hill of the quaich'
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Route detail & map »
Getting there
These hills are best accessed from Balsporran Cottages, by the A9, 4km south of Dalwhinnie, where there is ample parking.
A bike is best left at the route end for the cycle back.
Geal-charn
- From Balsporran Cottages cross the railway line, then follow a track uphill.
- Cross a burn via stepping stones, then another using a wooden bridge.
- Just bit further on, the track splits into two, take right fork.
The track unfortunately doesn't last and suddenly you'll be jumping around trying to avoid the wet marshy ground.
- Follow the wet and peat-boggy path uphill.
- Things do improve further up. On approaching c840m, the ground levels out and becomes more stone and gravel covered.
There used to be a group of cairns looking down on the A9, but these are now mostly gone.
- Continue west-south-west and reach the top with its two cairns, the second being on the summit.
Excellent views down Loch Ericht.
A'Mharconaich
- Leave the cairn and head south-west over stone and boulders following a faint path downhill.
Further down, the path becomes more obvious, turns south and at the bealach, joins up with a path coming directly up from Balsporran.
- Cross the bealach, then take a minor path that starts to climb off to left (south-east).
This path gradually disappears into the undergrowth, but continue uphill over grass and occasional burn to A'Mharconaich's wind-swept crest.
- A path on the crest is picked up heading north-east and meets two small cairns, the first of which is the summit, the second is a small shelter out of westerly winds.
Beinn Udlamain
- About-turn, follow the crest of A'Mharconaich south-west.
- The worn path meets up with fence-posts, which are followed down to a small bealach above Fraoch-choire.
- Uphill next and mainly on grass, continue following the posts to the summit of Beinn Udlamain.
- A huge untidy cairn made of boulders and old iron fence posts sits on the top.
Beinn Udlamain is a broad hill, therefore you'll have to walk a short distance from the summit to get the best views.
Sgairneach Mhor
- Continue following fence posts south, initially on grass, then stones and boulders.
Going downhill, the boulders ease and heather is underfoot.
- At around c900m, turn left (south-east) and start to pick up a faint path to cross the bealach between Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor.
- This path continues up to a small upright cairn on the north-western end of Sgairneach Mhor's western arm.
- From this cairn, aim south-east over grassy ground, to join with the crest of Sgairneach Mhor south-west shoulder and continue east-north-east to the trig point sheltered by cairn on the summit.
A'Bhuidheanach Bheag
- Follow rim of Sgairneach Mhor's coire east, then north-east down to around c800m.
- Turn north-east-north over heather and grass to jog downhill.
- Ahead and below you'll see two bridges (at NN620751 and NN608748) to aid crossing the Allt Coire Dhomhain, take your pick, then get onto the fine track on the north side of the burn heading east towards the A9.
- Before getting to the A9 you'll meetup with the railway - to cross it there's a bridge under the railway 400m to the south. Cross the A9, through a gate, then head directly up steep ground over heather.
- The rate of ascent easies and a line of fence-posts are picked up and followed to the trig point on A'Bhuidheanach Bheag's summit.
Carn na Caim
- Leave the trig point and head north following the fence-posts for 500m.
Where the fence-posts take a sharp turn east, continue north directly downhill to a wet flat area.
Cross the burn here and pick up an excellent track.
This track meets up with the line of fence-posts and continues for 4km over undulating ground to a sharp turn just before Carn na Caim's large cairn.
The cairn cannot be seen from the turn in the fence-line, but the worn path on the ground indicates the way.
Meall Chuaich
- Having left the large cairn of Carn na Caim behind, turn east and descend gradual slopes.
The ground is pathless, but as it covered in a light layer of grass and heather, is easy to progress over.
- After around 2km, start heading north-east and drop a bit more into deeper heather at a bealach.
- A further 2km and the edge of Coire Chuaich is picked up and a very obvious path is met.
- Follow this path down to the base of Meall Chuaich, then slog up steep slopes sticking to a line of fence-posts to the large summit cairn.
This summit gives a fine view over the Monadh Liath and Rothiemurchus hills.
Return to A9 and Balsporran Cottages
- Follow the fence-posts south-west for a bit, then head west over boulders to pick up an obvious worn path.
- Use this path to get down to the bothy by Loch Cuaich, then follow the track aside an aqueduct for 4km back to the A9, where hopefully a bike awaits for the brief cycle back to Balsporran Cottages.
- If you haven't left a bike, don't walk along the A9, instead continue to follow the aqueduct under the A9 to where it meets a weir just south of Dalwhinnie.
A cycle track can then be followed back to Balsporran.
Photos of route »
Geal Charn and A'Mharconaich
Balsporran Cottages and Geal-charn
Loch Pattack and Beinn a'Chlachair from Geal-charn
Heading up A'Mharconaich, Carn Dearg and Aonach Beag beyond
Beinn Udlamain from A'Mharconaich with Schiehallion distant
Looking down Loch Ericht from Beinn Udlamain
The untidy summit cairn of Beinn Udlamain
Sastrugi and rime ice with Sgairneach Mhor behind
Sunset from Sgairneach Mhor
Mountain hare below Sgairneach Mhor
Sgairneach Mhor and morraines from the A9
New bridge over the Allt Coire Dhomhain
Meall Chuaich from Carn na Caim
Panorama of Carn na Caim from Meall Chuaich
More photos are on Flickr !
Alternative routes »
West of the A9 including the Sow of Atholl
Bags of character and great views, this is a fine high-level route on which to quickly bag 4 Munros.
A'Bhuidheanach Bheag and Carn na Caim
This route is by far the most popular way up A'Bhuidheanach Bheag and Carn na Caim.
| Ascent |
1850m (2,800ft)
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| Distance |
16km (10m)
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| Time |
walking : 5:30hr
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| Terrain | | easy |
 | difficult |
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| Nav | | easy |
 | testing |
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| Effort | | stroll |
| long day |
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| Scenery | | ok |
| stunning |
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This route starts on the east side of the A9, 1km south of the Dalwhinnie junction, where a track heads into a section of forest.
There is limited parking available, with more in a lay-by on the other side of the road a few metres south.
- Beyond the gate, go through the planted forest and head up the track.
- The track turns south and climbs for 1km, before heading east, then turning south-east for the last 200m ascent up to the plateau.
- As it approaches the old quarry, the path seems to disappear into gravel, at this point, contour off to the right on a faint path to for around 500m and pick up the track and line of fence-posts.
- Follow this track south for 1km to its end, then cross the wet ground and head south directly uphill.
- After climbing up grassy slopes for another 1km, you should meet up with the line of fence-posts to take you to the summit of A'Bhuidheanach Bheag with its lonely trig point.
- Return north downhill to the track and follow the track and fence-posts for 4km over undulating ground to a sharp turn just before Carn na Caim's large cairn.
The cairn cannot be seen from the turn in the fence-line, but the worn path on the ground indicates the way.
- Return for 1km, then start to contour westwards.
Over thick heather, start to descend back down towards the A9, pick up the end of the track and return to the road
Interactive OS map
Meall Chuaich on its own
A fine Hydro track is followed to a bothy, from where a quick jog up and down bags this unassuming Munro.
| Ascent |
650m (2,150ft)
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| Distance |
14km (9m)
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| Time |
walking : 3:35hr
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| Terrain | | easy |
| difficult |
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| Nav | | easy |
| testing |
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| Effort | | stroll |
| long day |
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| Scenery | | ok |
| stunning |
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- 4km north of the Dalwhinnie junction, on the east side of the A9, there is a gate and start of a track.
Parking is restricted, however there are two lay-bys just south.
- Cross the gate and head up the track to meet an aqueduct.
Follow this track for 4km, past a hydro works to a junction just before Loch Chuaich.
Turn right, past a bothy and over a wooden bridge.
- The track takes an obvious turn right, there's a small cairn at the side, come off the track here and onto a worn path, heading uphill.
This path heads up north-east over heather, then grass, then turns east-south-east over a flat area.
- Careful navigation is required here in mist as the terrain becomes more bouldery and the path virtually disappears.
- As progress is made, a line of fence-posts comes into view.
Follow these fence-posts to the large summit cairn.
- Return the same route back.
Interactive OS map
Other hill routes nearby »
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Monadh Liath
Navigation work will be needed to cover the grassy ground on this moor - even in clear conditions !
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Feshie
In the heart of Rothiemurchus, heather and juniper cover the lower slopes, upper ground is flat and diffcult to navigate on in mist
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Atholl, Tilt and Bruar
Fine tracks reach Beinn a'Ghlo and its neighbours. Navigation skills are tested on the summit plateaus
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Schiehallion and neighbours
A prominant mountain from all directions. Routes up the 3 nearby Corbetts Meall Tairneachan, Farragon Hill and Beinn a'Chuallaich are also included.
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Carn Mairg group above Invervar and Glen Lyon
A fine circuit with 4 Munros and a Corbett. This area has been the focus of access issues in the recent past
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Alder Forest
A cycle in on good tracks alongside lochsides to a remote bothy encircled by mountains, far away from civilisation
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Accommodation & food »
Hotels &
Guest Houses |
Balsporran Cottage B&B near Dalwhinnie
Glen Hotel, Newtonmore
Balavil Hotel, Newtonmore
Ravenscraig Guest House, Aviemore
The Stronlossit Inn, Roy Bridge
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| Food |
Ralia Cafe
Laggan Wolftrax Cafe
Laggan Stores Coffee Bothy, Laggan
Boathouse Restaurant, Loch Insh
Potting Shed Tearoom, Inshriach Nursery
Mountain Cafe, Aviemore
Active Cafaidh, Aviemore
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Campsites,
Self Catering
& Hostels |
Strathspey Mountain Hostel, Newtonmore
Wayfarer's Rest, Laggan
Pottery Bunkhouse, Laggan
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Forecasts & other useful info »
Guided days on these mountains »
Our next guided event on the peaks above Drumochter will be in a weekend over
24-25 November 2018.
More information on the event is
here.
Alternatively, if you would like a bespoke day or two hiking over these peaks, we would be delighted to organise something for you and your group.
Check out our
Bespoke Guiding page for more information.
Previous guided events on our Blog :
