West of Drumochter Munros

Geal-charn above Balsporran Cottages

These hills are best accessed from Balsporran, by the A9, 4km south of Dalwhinnie, where there is ample parking.

The hill-route finishes in Drumochter Pass, around 4km south of Balsporran Cottages, therefore having a bike left at the end point or organising transport will avoid an unpleasant walk on the cycle route which hugs the A9 all the way back !

Balsporran Cottages is a bed and breakfast (search for Balsporran Cottages B&B)

Cairns on Geal-charn's crest

From Balsporran Cottages cross over the the railway line using the level-crossing , then begin to follow a track uphill.

Cross a burn via stepping stones, then another using a wooden bridge and 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.

Nearing Geal-charn's summit

Nearing Geal-charn's summit

Heading to A' Mharconaich

Leave the Geal-charn's 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 between Geal-charn and A' Mharconaich and meets with a track coming directly up from Balsporran.

Cross the bealach, then take a minor path that starts to climb off to left (south-east, there is sometimes a cairn marking the start point of this). At first this path is well constructed with stone steps, but gradually fades into a worn path. Follow this uphill over grass and occasional burn to A' Mharconaich's wind-swept crest.

Approaching A' Mharconaich's summit, Meall Chuaich beyond

Approaching A' Mharconaich's summit, Meall Chuaich beyond

Beinn Udlamain from the western shoulder of A'Mharconaich

On A' Mharconaich about-turn, follow the path and line of posts along the mountain's crest south-west down to a small bealach above Fraoch-choire.

Uphill next and mainly on grass, continue following the path and posts. A minor bump is by-passed, thereafter the posts lead to a small cairn at the northern end of Beinn Udlamain's crest. A sharp turn left (south) and the posts lead to the summit of Beinn Udlamain .

View from Beinn Udlamain down Loch Ericht

View from Beinn Udlamain down Loch Ericht

On Sgairneach Mhor's summit plateau

Leaving Beinn Udlamain's summit behind, continue following fence posts south, initially on grass, then stones and boulders. As the bouldery terrain eases briefly, look for evidence of a path forming off to the left at around the 900m contour . Take this path as is drops through heathery ground, aiming south-east to end up crossing a small burn at the bealach between Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor.

The path disappears into grass and peat, reforming higher up and continuing up to a small upright cairn (NN589732) on the north-western end of Sgairneach Mhor's western arm (though with a bit of careful navigation, this dog-leg can be by-passed).

Looking south from Sgairneach Mhor to Meall nan Leitreach

Looking south from Sgairneach Mhor to Meall nan Leitreach

Bridge over the Allt Coire Dhomhain

From Sgairneach Mhor's trig point, start to head east, downhill on a faint path. The path keeps to the crest of Sgairneach Mhor's eastern shoulder above Coire Creagach and drops to a gap just before reaching a small bump (marked 758 on OS maps).

If not intending to climb the Sow of Atholl, look for a worn path heading northwards around the bump. This path travels around the bump on its north-facing slope, from where it's left behind for a direct fast descent to a bridge over the Allt Coire Dhomhain (at NN620750 and not currently marked on OS maps).

If aiming up the Sow of Atholl, from the gap, pick up an obvious set of ATV tracks heading south-east to follow to a bealach below the Sow of Atholl. Head directly uphill, north-east over patchy heather - it's a mere climb of just over 150m to the Sow of Atholl's summit . Leaving the summit behind, drop northwards down more heathery clad steep slopes to pick up another set of ATV tracks that lead to a bridge (at NN621749 and not shown on OS maps) to cross a burn and reach the bridge over the Allt Coire Dhomhain .

On the track out, looking back up to Sgairneach Mhor

On the track out, looking back up to Sgairneach Mhor