Beinn Udlamain

West of Drumochter Munros

Beinn Udlamain and the Munros west of Drumochter

Bags of character and great views, this is a fine high-level route on which to quickly bag the 4 Munros west of the Pass of Drumochter, possibly adding in the Corbett peak of the Sow of Atholl for good measure.



Route outline


Munros

Beinn Udlamain, 

Geal-charn, 

A' Mharconaich, 

Sgairneach Mhor

Corbetts

Sow of Atholl

Ascent 1300m (4260ft)
Distance 24km (15m)
Time 8:10hr
Start/finish Balsporran Cottages
Grid Ref : NN627792
Terrain
easy hard
Nav
easy hard
Effort
easy hard
Scenery
ok fab


Terrain is fairly easy underfoot, with most of the route on paths and following fence-posts. On the wide summits of A' Mharconaich and Sgairneach Mhor, navigation can be testing if mist or white-out conditions persist. On fine days all summits afford good views, paticularly over Loch Ericht to the Ben Alder group and beyond.



Route map

×
Show map


Route description


1. Getting to Drumochter and Balsporran Cottages

Geal-charn above Balsporran Cottages

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)


2. Geal-charn

Cairns on Geal-charn's crest

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

Continue west-south-west and reach Geal-charn's top with its two cairns, take your pick as to which is the summit (I think it's the first one !). Excellent views down Loch Ericht.

Nearing Geal-charn's summit

Nearing Geal-charn's summit


3. A' Mharconaich

Heading to A' Mharconaich

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

A path and line of fence-posts are picked up on the wide plateau crest heading north-east by two small cairns, the first of which is the summit , the second is a small shelter out of westerly winds.

Approaching A' Mharconaich's summit, Meall Chuaich beyond

Approaching A' Mharconaich's summit, Meall Chuaich beyond


4. Beinn Udlamain

Beinn Udlamain from the western shoulder of A'Mharconaich

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

A huge untidy cairn, made of boulders and old iron fence posts, marks the highest point of Beinn Udlamain, standing on a wide grass-covered plateau - you may have to walk a short distance from the summit to get the best views !

View from Beinn Udlamain down Loch Ericht

View from Beinn Udlamain down Loch Ericht


5. Sgairneach Mhor

On Sgairneach Mhor's summit plateau

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

From the cairn, aim south-east over grassy ground, to join with the crest of Sgairneach Mhor's south-western shoulder and continue east-north-east to the trig point partically sheltered by stones on the summit .

Looking south from Sgairneach Mhor to Meall nan Leitreach

Looking south from Sgairneach Mhor to Meall nan Leitreach


6. Sow of Atholl and return

Bridge over the Allt Coire Dhomhain

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

Now on a track above the northern side of the Allt Coire Dhomhain, follow it eastwards towards the A9. When the track nears the railway-line, follow the track as it turns southwards for 300m to aim under the railway via a short tunnel . Join Route 7 cycle way to return to the A9 - if you've not left a bike or other transport near here, follow the cycle track northwards back to Balsporran Cottages.

On the track out, looking back up to Sgairneach Mhor

On the track out, looking back up to Sgairneach Mhor





Route profile »




Maps and GPX downloads »


Information on maps and GPX files is on this page.

The map images above link to items on Amazon. A small commission is earned on any map purchased which helps fund the operating costs of this website.





Weather forecasts »




Alternative and nearby routes »


Beinn Mholach from Dalnaspidal

A cycle down the length of Loch Garry into a remote area, where a fair hike or run up heather-clad slopes leads to a wide crest and eventually the huge cairn on Beinn Mholach

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 620m (2030ft)
Distance : 23km (14m)
Time : 4:30hr

Meall na Leithreach from Dalnaspidal

Following estate and ATV tracks, a direct route up Meall na Leitreach covers a distance of only 8km with 450m of ascent. The route can be extended to make a more interesting circuit.

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 475m (1560ft)
Distance : 13km (8m)
Time : 4hr

East of Drumochter

Carn na Caim, A'Bhuidheanach Bheag and Meall Chuaich form a linear route on the eastern side of Drumochter Pass. Having a bike or other transport organised will save a long return route as the start and end points are around 11km apart.

Peaks : 3 Munros

Ascent : 1100m (3610ft)
Distance : 25km (16m)
Time : 8:10hr

Stob an Aonaich Mhoir from Loch Rannoch

From near the western end of Loch Rannoch, a hydro road climbs northwards, reaching its highest point, from where a bound up grass and heather for just over 1km gains Stob an Aonaich Mhoir's summit.

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 690m (2260ft)
Distance : 30km (19m)
Time : 3:10hr









Contact

Contact me

Follow