Hills: Geal-charn and A'Mharconaich
Date: Sunday 2nd December 2012
Company: Just myself
Distance: 11.1km, Ascent: 740m
Time: 4Hrs 55Mins

On looking out the window this morning, the weather looked wonderful .

It was my intention to ascend a small Marilyn above Loch Tay called Drummond Hill. It only took about one second to decide that Drummond Hill could wait for another day - the weather was too good to waste on a viewless tree-covered molehill.

Last-minute decision time, what would I go up instead?

I checked the map for nearby Munros that I still required for my second round. Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich fitted the bill perfectly - a reasonably short day and on my way home.

I drove to, and parked at Balsporran Cottages, where there is a large car park.

I last ascended Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich together with Beinn Udlamainn and Sgairneach Mhor, back in the summer of 1998.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

From the car park, I undertook the standard anti-clockwise circuit of Geal-charn and A’Mharconaich.

Not going to say anymore about the day, other than it was really enjoyable and the views were excellent.
Geal-charn must be one of the easiest Munros, with maximum reward for minimal effort.

I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.

Balsporran Cottages:


Geal-charn:


An Torc and A’Mharconaich:


Ascending Geal-charn:


Looking back towards Balsporran Cottages:


View towards Glen Feshie:


Looking across to A’Mharconaich from cairn en-route to the summit of Geal-charn:


Looking towards the summit of Geal-charn from the cairn at 840m:


Looking back towards Creagan Mor and 840m cairn:


The Fara, Loch Ericht and Creagan Mor:


View from the summit of Geal-charn:


Looking across to Loch Ericht and Ben Alder from cairn:


Ben Alder and Ardverikie Forest Munros:


Culra Bothy (zoom):


Long and Short Leachas ridges of Ben Alder (zoom):


Loch Ericht and Ben Alder hills from a short distance below the summit cairn:


Looking back to Geal-charn:


About to ascend A’Mharconaich:


Ascending A’Mharconaich:


Loch Ericht from A’Mharconaich:


Ben Alder Lodge (zoom):


Airplane (zoom):


Rime-covered fence post:


Schiehallion (zoom):


Looking towards the summit of A’Mharconaich:


Snow-covered small summit cairn of A’Mharconaich:


Looking towards large cairn from small summit cairn:


Descent from A’Mharconaich:


Looking back at initial descent from A’Mharconaich:


Geal-charn from A’Mharconaich:


Descent towards Balsporran Cottages:


Approaching Balsporran Cottages:


A wonderful completion to a fantastic weekend of walking.
I hope there are many more days like this this winter .